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Linguistic workaround allows Marco Rubio, sanctioned by Beijing, to travel to China for the first time

May 13, 2026Center Left

Chinese government appears to be using the workaround of a different character to represent part of the secretary of state’s name, to allow him to visit the country for the upcoming Trump summitUS secretary of state Marco Rubio is heading to Beijing with president Donald Trump despite being under Chinese sanctions – a breakthrough that might have been made…

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Bizarre loophole used as Marco Rubio China ban threatened to upend Trump trip: report

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May 13, 2026

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Bizarre loophole used as Marco Rubio China ban threatened to upend Trump trip: report

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled with President Donald Trump on his state visit to China this week and played a significant role in the negotiations — despite China banning Rubio from the country in 2020 under sanctions for his public criticism of the country when he was a senator. China never actually lifted those sanctions.But, according to The…

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China and U.S. agree Hormuz should not be ‘militarized,’ Marco Rubio says

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May 14, 2026

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President Donald Trump discussed the Iran war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during a summit with President Xi Jinping, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News in an interview Thursday.

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China exercises linguistic license to allow sanctioned Rubio into country

Washington Examiner

May 13, 2026

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China exercises linguistic license to allow sanctioned Rubio into country

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is sanctioned by Beijing and officially unable to enter China but is allowed under a linguistic quirk of Mandarin. Rubio was sanctioned during his time in the Senate over his hawkish stance on China and work addressing human rights in China. Shortly after he was named secretary of state, however,…

Center Right

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Musk, Rubio, Hegseth: Who is Traveling With Trump to China?

The New York Times

May 13, 2026

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Musk, Rubio, Hegseth: Who is Traveling With Trump to China?

President Trump arrived in Beijing, ahead of his meeting with President Xi Jinping of China. Among those accompanying Mr. Trump were top administration officials and business leaders.

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China tweaks Rubio’s name to bypass travel ban for Trump-Xi meeting

The Hill

May 13, 2026

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China tweaks Rubio’s name to bypass travel ban for Trump-Xi meeting

China has altered the transliteration of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name, a bureaucratic workaround that allowed him to enter the country for a high-stakes meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, according to reports. Rubio was sanctioned as a U.S. senator by the Chinese government in 2020 for criticizing Beijing’s…

Center

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