It was in 2020 when Beijing sanctioned the then Florida senator twice for promoting a bill that banned Chinese officials from entering the United States and for supporting the democratic movements in Hong Kong.

Facing multiple sanctions from Beijing, it's unclear whether Marco Rubio will be able to visit China while completing official duties as Secretary of State.

China’s foreign minister conveyed the message in a phone call, their first conversation since Marco Rubio’s confirmation as Trump’s top diplomat.

Rubio has had a previously rocky relationship with China's foreign minister and the Chinese government, with the Beijing placing sanctions on him in 2020 in response to his criticism over the country'