Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican presidential candidate is turning toward China, arguing that a strong U.S. is necessary in order to secure peace with the Asian superpower, The Hill reported on Friday, August 28th.

In an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal ahead of a foreign policy speech Friday on the topic, the Florida senator stresses “a strong America — militarily, economically and morally” for “lasting peace” with China.

“If elected U.S. president next fall, I will approach China on the basis of strength and example, not weakness and appeasement,” Rubio wrote after criticizing President Obama.
Rubio, a hawkish lawmaker, has delivered major addresses focused on foreign policy and his approaches to Iran and Cuba, where he has ripped the Obama administration.

Now he is turning to China on the heels of global financial markets rattling after a crash in Chinese stocks early this week and ahead of a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.

The stock crash represented “a painful reminder of just how important U.S. policy toward China is in the 21st century,” Rubio wrote in the Journal.

While speaking favorably of trade, Rubio wrote that “Beijing’s protectionist economic and trade policies increasingly endanger America’s financial well-being.”

“China is also a rising threat to U.S. national security. Earlier this year, it was behind the largest cyberattack ever carried out against the United States,” he said.

He also took issue with China’s treatment of political dissidents, writing, “Under my presidency, Beijing will not receive a free pass on human rights.”