Chinese officials refuse to discuss Beijing's travel ban against Marco Rubio

Despite Marco Rubio's confirmation as secretary of State on Jan. 20, Chinese officials are reportedly refusing to discuss Beijing's existing travel ban against the Florida Republican.

Back in July 2020, Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were targeted by sanctions from Beijing because they spoke out against China's oppression of the Uyghur Muslims.

If America's top diplomat is not allowed to travel to China, it could represent a significant obstacle to diplomacy.

According to Breitbart, "China passed an 'Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law' in 2021 that was intended to intimidate foreign governments by promising automatic retaliation against any effort to sanction China for its human rights abuses."

When Rubio was banned, America had just imposed sanctions against Chinese officials involved in what then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called "horrific and systematic abuses" against the Uyghurs.

Beyond that, Rubio was also named in retaliatory sanctions that China imposed against American officials in 2020, after the United States sanctioned eleven Chinese officials for political repression in Hong Kong.

Several other Republicans were also banned from traveling to China, such as Tom Cotton from Arkansas, Josh Hawley from Missouri, and Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said at the time, "In response to those wrong U.S. behaviors, China has decided to impose sanctions on individuals who have behaved egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues."

Recently, when asked if the fact that Marco Rubio was now secretary of State would have an impact on his ban, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, "I have no information to share on your question."

"Let me say more broadly that it’s necessary for high-level Chinese and U.S. officials to engage each other in appropriate ways. In the meantime, China will firmly defend its national interests," she added.

She then criticized Rubio for discussing China's "dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea" with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo.

"Military cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, still less should such cooperation support or advance the Philippines’ illegal claims," she said.

Only time will tell exactly how willing China will be to work with Marco Rubio. Until then, America's new secretary of State will just have to do the best job he can with the hand he's been dealt.