Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

In a wide-ranging, two-hour year-end briefing on Friday, Washington’s top diplomat Marco Rubio offered pragmatic remarks on China, signalling a tonal shift in the administration’s approach towards Beijing amid broader “America first” priorities for 2026. While detailing a recalibration of US foreign policy, Rubio’s comments on China marked a notable evolution from both his own legislative history and the rhetoric of the previous administration. Rubio, the US secretary of state who also serves as...