Rubio hits Obama on handling of Chinese hacking

President Obama’s handling of China has only fueled a “more nationalist and belligerent rising power that threatens to undermine the stability in Asia and destabilize the international economy,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a Fox News op-ed published Friday.

Rubio, who is running for president, has made a hard-line approach to China a central tenet of his White House bid, pledging more military resources for the region and stronger responses to ongoing allegations of Chinese hacking.

{mosads}The Florida senator has been ramping up his criticisms of Obama ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the White House, scheduled for Friday.

“President Xi’s visit represents President Obama’s perhaps final opportunity to reverse course,” Rubio said. “He must be forceful and direct about U.S. concerns. If he fails to do this, as President, I will ensure that U.S. policy toward China better reflects the full range of concerns we have with Beijing’s actions.”

In a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Thursday, Rubio raised a number of those concerns. In particular, he highlighted China’s widespread digital theft of U.S. corporate secrets.

This commercial espionage “is directed, influenced and funded by the Chinese government itself,” he said.

The White House has vowed the topic will be a top priority during the visit. The administration even floated the possibility that it would impose economic sanctions for hacking ahead of Xi’s trip but has since decided to hold off until at least after the Chinese leader leaves Washington.

The delay bothered Rubio, who has gained ground in the presidential polls since a well-received performance in the last GOP debate.

“The United States has repeatedly warned China to stop but refrained from any meaningful response,” he said in Friday’s op-ed. “It should be made clear that the hacking has reached a point that the United States has no choice but to respond with targeted sanctions and, if necessary, offensive cyber operations.”