How did US Secretary Marco Rubio enter China despite being sanctioned twice?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended high-level meetings in Beijing despite being under Chinese sanctions, with reports saying Chinese authorities used an alternative spelling of his name in official documents.

According to Al Jazeera report, Rubio’s name appeared differently in official records linked to the visit, allowing him to take part in diplomatic engagements despite sanctions imposed by China before he became secretary of state.

AFP said in a report, shortly before he took office in January 2025, the Chinese government and official media began transliterating the first syllable of his surname with a different Chinese character for "lu." As a US senator, Rubio fiercely championed human rights in China, which retaliated by imposing sanctions on him twice -- adopting a tactic more often used by the United States against adversaries.

Rubio attended meetings at the Great Hall of the People alongside Donald Trump during Trump’s visit to China.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on issues including Iran, trade and Taiwan. Trump said the two countries would have “a fantastic future together” and described it as “an honour” to be Xi’s friend.

Xi said the two sides “should be partners and not rivals”.

China welcomed Trump with a state ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, including a military band, gun salute and a reception involving schoolchildren.

The visit marks the first trip to China by a US president in nearly a decade, despite continuing tensions between the two countries over trade and geopolitical issues.