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The Chinese government has adopted a new way of writing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's name in Chinese characters, in a diplomatic move aimed at evading sanctions and allowing him to accompany President Trump on his historic visit to Beijing. Rubio, known for his sharp criticism of Chinese policies toward the Uyghurs and Hong Kong, is visiting China for the first time in his new role.
Diplomatic sources revealed that the Chinese government resorted to a skillful linguistic trick to solve the dilemma of sanctions imposed on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, by changing the way his name is written in Chinese characters. Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pingyu confirmed that sanctions against Rubio were aimed at “his words and actions when he was a U.S. senator regarding China,” suggesting that this hurdle could be overcome under his new position. Rubio, a 54-year-old Cuban-American, was one of China's most prominent human rights defenders during his time in the Senate, contributing to legislation that imposed broad sanctions on China for what he described as “repression of the Uyghur minority and abuses in Hong Kong.” Beijing imposed sanctions on Rubio twice during his parliamentary term, in a move that reflects the tension between the two sides over the human rights file. However, Recent developments indicate a Chinese desire to turn a new page with the new US administration. The visit comes as part of diplomatic efforts to revive dialogue between the world's two largest economies, as the two sides seek common ground for cooperation despite deep differences on multiple issues.
Source: Al-Wehda Al-Arabia News Portal
