Marco Rubio’s approach as Secretary of State would emphasize confronting China on multiple fronts—trade, human rights, and military expansion. By rallying U.S. allies and promoting alternatives to China’s global investments, Rubio would work to limit China’s influence and ensure a more assertive U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific. However, his strategies will likely heighten tensions with Beijing, leading to an even more confrontational U.S.-China relationship.

New Delhi (ABC Live): Recently, Donald Trump, the 47th President-elect, appointed key members to his Cabinet, signaling a more aggressive stance that could escalate tensions between the U.S. and China during his second term as President.

Trump's tough approach to China began in his first term, most notably by launching a trade war with Beijing. The imposition of tariffs and the focus on China’s trade practices became defining features of his foreign policy. With his second term set to begin in January 2025, Trump’s latest Cabinet appointments indicate a commitment to intensifying his confrontational approach toward China.

In this report, the ABC Research team has examined the profiles of Trump’s key Cabinet picks for his second term, including:

Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

Michael Waltz as National Security Adviser

John Ratcliffe as CIA Director

Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative

Elise Stefanik as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Marco Rubio: A Profile

Marco Rubio is one of the most influential Republican voices in Congress. Though he lost in the 2016 presidential race, Rubio continues to play a prominent role in shaping U.S. policy, especially on issues related to foreign policy, national security, and China. His political influence, especially among those advocating for a stronger U.S. global presence, makes him an important figure in the Republican Party.

Rubio’s Political Views

Foreign Policy:

Rubio has long been a vocal critic of China’s growing power. He believes the U.S. must take a tougher approach to counter China’s influence, particularly in areas such as trade, military activity, and human rights. Rubio supports increasing U.S. military presence in Asia and opposing China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. He also advocates for stronger alliances with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, like Japan, India, and Australia, to help balance China’s influence.

Immigration:

Rubio has also been involved in immigration reform. He was a key player in the 2013 Gang of Eight immigration bill, which aimed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border while providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. However, after facing conservative criticism, Rubio shifted to a more hardline stance on border security, although he continues to support a path to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants, like those covered under DACA.

Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

As Secretary of State, Rubio’s focus would be on strengthening U.S. alliances and confronting China’s growing global influence. His policy would likely center on three main areas:

1. Countering China’s Global Influence:

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to build infrastructure in over 140 countries, has given China significant global leverage. Rubio has suggested that the U.S. should counter this by promoting alternative investment initiatives, such as the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which plans to offer $600 billion in funding over five years.

Rubio’s strategy could reduce China’s influence in regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America by offering these countries alternative investment opportunities. However, this could also lead to competition, with China likely pushing back by leveraging its own investments and diplomatic ties.

2. Human Rights Advocacy:

Rubio has been a strong advocate for human rights, particularly in China. Reports have highlighted widespread human rights abuses, such as the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Rubio would likely push for expanding sanctions on Chinese officials and businesses linked to these abuses, and support U.S. laws barring imports of goods produced using forced labor from Xinjiang.

While this would put pressure on China to change its practices, it could also lead to retaliation from Beijing, including restrictions on U.S. companies operating in China.

3. Strengthening Indo-Pacific Alliances:

Rubio would focus on reinforcing key alliances in the Indo-Pacific, particularly with the Quad (the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia) and Southeast Asian nations. Trade through the South China Sea, a crucial maritime route, is worth $3.4 trillion annually. Rubio would likely push for joint military exercises like the Malabar Naval Exercise to counter China’s territorial claims.

This approach could increase military cooperation with these countries, but it also risks escalating tensions with China, particularly in contested areas like the South China Sea.

Conclusion

Marco Rubio’s approach as Secretary of State would emphasize confronting China on multiple fronts—trade, human rights, and military expansion. By rallying U.S. allies and promoting alternatives to China’s global investments, Rubio would work to limit China’s influence and ensure a more assertive U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific. However, his strategies will likely heighten tensions with Beijing, leading to an even more confrontational U.S.-China relationship.

In our next post, we will analyze the profile of Michael Waltz as National Security Adviser.