China’s veteran Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a subtle yet pointed warning to America’s newly confirmed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, urging him to “act accordingly” during their first phone call on Friday. Rubio, confirmed just four days earlier as President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, has a history of vocal criticism toward China, which has drawn the ire of Beijing in the past.
The phrase used by Wang, typically reserved for advising responsibility, carries a dual meaning — both an expectation and a veiled caution. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement highlighted the remark, which seemed to target Rubio’s strong stance on China’s human rights record. During his time as a U.S. senator, Rubio was an outspoken critic of China’s policies on the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and its handling of Hong Kong. His actions led Beijing to impose sanctions on him twice in 2020, barring him from traveling to China.
Experts suggest Wang’s phrasing reflects a classic Chinese diplomatic approach. Zichen Wang, a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, explained that the deliberate vagueness of such remarks allows them to convey both a warning and maintain diplomatic politeness.
The U.S. statement on the phone call did not mention Wang’s remark but confirmed that Rubio raised concerns over China’s actions regarding Taiwan and its militarization of the South China Sea. Rubio also reiterated the U.S. commitment to advancing its interests in the bilateral relationship. During his confirmation hearing, Rubio emphasized the importance of understanding Chinese officials’ words in their original context and warned against relying solely on official English translations.
Although Beijing has indicated a willingness to engage with Rubio in his role as secretary of state, it remains unclear whether the sanctions barring him from entering China will be lifted. The sanctions, imposed during Wang’s previous tenure as foreign minister, were China’s response to U.S. actions, including penalties on Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and interference in Hong Kong.
As the two nations navigate this latest chapter in their often tense relationship, the diplomatic exchange between Wang and Rubio underscores the complexities of balancing confrontation and cooperation in U.S.-China relations.
The phrase used by Wang, typically reserved for advising responsibility, carries a dual meaning — both an expectation and a veiled caution. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement highlighted the remark, which seemed to target Rubio’s strong stance on China’s human rights record. During his time as a U.S. senator, Rubio was an outspoken critic of China’s policies on the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and its handling of Hong Kong. His actions led Beijing to impose sanctions on him twice in 2020, barring him from traveling to China.
Experts suggest Wang’s phrasing reflects a classic Chinese diplomatic approach. Zichen Wang, a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, explained that the deliberate vagueness of such remarks allows them to convey both a warning and maintain diplomatic politeness.
The U.S. statement on the phone call did not mention Wang’s remark but confirmed that Rubio raised concerns over China’s actions regarding Taiwan and its militarization of the South China Sea. Rubio also reiterated the U.S. commitment to advancing its interests in the bilateral relationship. During his confirmation hearing, Rubio emphasized the importance of understanding Chinese officials’ words in their original context and warned against relying solely on official English translations.
Although Beijing has indicated a willingness to engage with Rubio in his role as secretary of state, it remains unclear whether the sanctions barring him from entering China will be lifted. The sanctions, imposed during Wang’s previous tenure as foreign minister, were China’s response to U.S. actions, including penalties on Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and interference in Hong Kong.
As the two nations navigate this latest chapter in their often tense relationship, the diplomatic exchange between Wang and Rubio underscores the complexities of balancing confrontation and cooperation in U.S.-China relations.
