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President-Elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State has warned that America’s growing reliance on China represents the greatest threat to the US in the 21st Century.
Some shit you should know before you read: For over a decade, US officials from both Congress and the Pentagon have warned about the dangers of America’s dependency on China for critical goods, with concerns directly raised over the vulnerability this creates in the event of a conflict or if China uses economic leverage to influence US policy. As of now, the United States relies heavily on China for essential items like rare earth minerals, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and electronics, all of which are vital to national security and economic stability. In 2022, trade between the two nations totaled over $690 billion, with the US importing $536.8 billion worth of goods from China, including 90% of rare earth materials used in defense technologies and renewable energy. This dependency has fueled bipartisan calls to diversify supply chains and reshore manufacturing to reduce risks of supply disruptions or economic coercion during a geopolitical crisis.
What’s going on now: During his Senate confirmation hearing, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, issued strong warnings about the growing threat posed by China, calling it the “biggest threat” to American prosperity in the 21st Century. Rubio criticized China’s exploitation of globalism, accusing Beijing of using repression, theft, and deceit to rise as a global superpower while warning that America’s reliance on China for critical resources like rare earth minerals and pharmaceuticals leaves the nation vulnerable. He called for immediate policy changes to counter China’s ambitions, particularly ahead of what he says is the inevitable invasion of Taiwan. Rubio also said that China must understand that it would “pay too high a price” for an invasion of Taiwan. Rubio also said there was a need to realign US foreign policy toward prioritizing “core national interests” and reducing dependency on adversarial nations.
Russia-Ukraine: Rubio outlined a vision for US foreign policy that follows Trump’s “America First” approach while maintaining traditional alliances. On the Russia-Ukraine war, he supported Trump’s push for a resolution. Still, he acknowledged that a peace deal would require concessions from both Russia and Ukraine, with US sanctions relief potentially being a negotiating tool. Rubio described the conflict as a “stalemate” and stressed the need for a balanced, pragmatic approach to end the war.
On NATO, Rubio said the US should be committed to the alliance but echoed Trump’s view that European allies should contribute more to collective defense. He argued that the US must decide whether to continue playing a primary defense role or shift to being a “backstop” against aggression.
This all comes as Senator Rubio is likely to be confirmed as Secretary of State, with strong bipartisan support from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he has served for 14 years. During his confirmation hearing, Rubio received a warm reception, with members praising his experience and expertise in foreign policy.
