Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) have been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to shape his China policy over the next four years. Rubio will serve as Secretary of State, while Waltz will be the national security adviser.
Both Rubio and Waltz have been strong critics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and are known for their hawkish stance on China. Here’s a look at their views on China:
Overall Framework
In a keynote speech at The Heritage Foundation in March 2023, Rubio emphasized the need for a comprehensive framework to address the U.S.-China conflict. He highlighted the various fronts on which the conflict exists, including geopolitical, diplomatic, societal, technological, and commercial aspects.
Rubio stated, “We are in a conflict with a nation-state that doesn’t just seek to replace us, but seeks to reorient the world.”
Rubio’s approach to China focuses on improving human rights, protecting American industrial power, and countering CCP influence and espionage in the U.S. His legislative record reflects these priorities.
After Rubio’s nomination as Secretary of State, his colleagues, including Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), expressed support for his appointment.
Rep. Waltz has also taken a strong stance on China, particularly in the maritime domain. He has advocated for a boost in U.S. shipping infrastructure and emphasized the need for deterrence against Chinese naval expansion.
Waltz’s post-appointment statement underscored his commitment to keeping America strong and investing in technologies that enhance national security.
Unlike Waltz, Rubio’s nomination requires Senate confirmation, which is expected given the Republican majority in the chamber.
In his statement to The Epoch Times, Rubio emphasized the importance of prioritizing American interests and delivering peace through strength under President Trump’s leadership.
Human Rights
Rubio has been instrumental in passing laws related to human rights abuses in China, including the CCP’s genocide of the Uyghur people and the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong.
Despite facing retaliatory sanctions from Beijing, Rubio has continued to advocate for human rights in China, including introducing bills to address abuses against the Uyghur population and support democracy in Hong Kong.
Rubio’s work extends to protecting Falun Gong practitioners, who have been persecuted by the CCP, both in China and abroad.
In July, Rubio introduced the Falun Gong Protection Act in the Senate to combat China’s forced organ harvesting practices and protect the rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
Earlier in June, the House companion version was passed. An independent people’s tribunal in 2019 found that the Chinese regime had been killing detained Falun Gong practitioners for their organs on a “significant scale.” Rubio has also been at the forefront of passing bills that sanction human rights violators, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act that became law in December 2021. This act bans all imported goods from Xinjiang unless it can be proven that they were not produced using forced labor.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the U.S. Army for comment.
Countering CCP Espionage
As the vice chair of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, Rubio has also been instrumental in enacting the Intelligence Authorization Act each year. The act authorizes funding for the intelligence community to combat the espionage activities of foreign adversaries, including China.
Waltz, a former defense policy director for Defense Department secretaries under President George W. Bush, takes a special interest in the Indo–Pacific region and has spent years building the U.S.–India partnership as a lawmaker.
In a statement to The Epoch Times, Khanna said Waltz has been “a strong leader” in building U.S.–India relations.
“I am confident that he will work to strengthen the U.S.–India defense partnership and deter aggression from China,” he said.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rubio’s colleague on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Rubio would be “a very effective diplomat for America.”
“Marco is smart. He cares about foreign policy. He cares about standing up to communists, especially in Cuba,” Cruz said in his podcast “Verdict with Ted Cruz” on Nov. 13.
“He cares about standing up to communists in China.”
Please rewrite this sentence. Can you please rewrite this sentence? Please rewrite the following text: “The new restaurant in town has a wide selection of delicious dishes to choose from.”
Source link
