The appointment of Marco Rubio poses a dilemma for Beijing. The senator from Florida is set to become the new US Secretary of State under President Donald Trump. The same Rubio who has been sanctioned by the People’s Republic of China since 2020 for his public support of the pro-democracy mass protests in Hong Kong. The sanctions have never been officially lifted. This means that Rubio is still considered unwelcome in China and is barred from entering the country.