US Secretary of State Rubio will set foot on Chinese soil for the first time—something almost unimaginable just a few years ago.
He has previously been highly focused on China’s human rights issues, to which China responded by sanctioning him twice.
Shortly before he took office in January 2025, the Chinese government and state media began changing the Chinese translation of his name from “卢” to “鲁.”
Diplomats believe the change was because China had imposed entry bans specifically tied to Rubio’s old Chinese translated surname as part of prior sanctions.
Now, not only is he visiting China, but he is doing so as Secretary of State, accompanying President Trump on a state visit.
For Rubio, this visit is far from a routine diplomatic mission. Behind it lies a hidden plan: positioning himself within the Republican Party for the 2028 presidential primaries.
On May 7, Rubio posted a short video on social media, featuring remarks from his first White House press conference as Secretary of State on May 5.
When asked by a reporter, “At this moment, what is your expectation for America?” Rubio replied: “My expectations for America have never changed… This is the place where anyone, regardless of background, skin color, or ethnicity, can overcome challenges and realize their potential… America isn’t perfect, but our history is one of continual progress.”
Rubio’s team edited the exchange into a vertical video, set to patriotic music with images of the Stars and Stripes, Reagan, and other icons—essentially in campaign ad style. The video quickly went viral, and the hashtag #Rubio2028 began trending in the US.
The general consensus is that this was a deliberate trial balloon by Rubio as he considers running in the 2028 Republican primary. Among conservatives, both in polling and prediction markets, Rubio is surging in popularity and now poses a real challenge to Vice President Vance’s frontrunner status.
For Rubio, the most important part of this China visit is that it finally fills a critical gap on his resume: real experience with major-power diplomacy and firsthand encounters with China.
There is a hidden rule in US presidential politics: truly competitive candidates must have three things. First, national name recognition; second, administrative experience; third, the ability to handle major international affairs.
Rubio has long possessed the first two, but the third has always been his weakness. Especially within the Republican Party, many have viewed him as the classic Washington politician—good with words, weak on action.
But in the Trump 2.0 era, Trump personally helped Rubio shore up this weakness by appointing him to the most critical platform: Secretary of State, involving him deeply in Middle East, US-China, and Russia-Ukraine affairs.
US-China relations today are far more than a diplomatic issue; they are the world’s most complex strategic competition. From supply chains, AI, and semiconductors to the financial system, geopolitical security, and the Taiwan Strait, virtually every major international issue involves China. For any US presidential candidate, handling China is now a test they must pass. Rubio’s first steps on Chinese soil signify his shift from being a “China hawk lawmaker” to a true “major power competition operator.”
Even more importantly, Rubio is working to build a new political persona: one that is both tough and realistically capable. If he succeeds, he will become a formidable contender in the 2028 presidential election.