Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has issued a stark warning that, unless the U.S. changes course, China could dominate key aspects of American life within the next decade. During his confirmation hearing for Secretary of State on Wednesday, Rubio cautioned that the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) grip on critical industries and materials could render the U.S. “entirely dependent” on China for products ranging from medicine to entertainment.
“If we stay on the road we’re on right now, [in] less than 10 years, virtually everything that matters to us will depend on whether China allows us to have it or not,” Rubio stated. “Everything from the blood pressure medicine we take to what movies we get to watch and everything in between. They have come to dominate the critical mineral industry [and] supplies throughout the world. Even those who want to see more electric cars—no matter where you make them—those batteries are almost entirely dependent on the ability and the willingness of the Chinese Communist Party to produce and export it to you.”
He emphasized, “If we don’t change course, we’re going to live in a world where everything that matters to us on a daily basis, from our security to our health, will be dependent on whether the Chinese allow us to have it or not. That is an unacceptable outcome.”
Rubio’s firm stance against the CCP is well-documented. In July 2020, China banned him from entering the country due to his outspoken criticism of the Uyghur genocide. The following month, China sanctioned Rubio and other members of Congress for their condemnation of human rights abuses.
He has also been a vocal critic of TikTok, advocating for a ban on the app as early as 2021 after China gained a 1% stake in its parent company, Beijing ByteDance Technology. Recently, documents revealed that TikTok allegedly required former American marketing executive Katie Puris to sign an oath supporting China’s “socialist system” and “national interests.”
TikTok is expected to cease operations in the U.S. after a federal ban on the app took effect. Rubio, along with Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, has also called on the Department of Defense to block CATL, a Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturer, from securing U.S. military contracts. They accused the company of being influenced by the CCP through subsidies, tax incentives, and procurement deals, as well as supporting the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Rubio’s nomination for Secretary of State by President-elect Donald Trump was announced on November 13, with Trump describing Rubio as “a very powerful Voice for Freedom” and “a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.”
