Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said something that roughly translates to “behave yourself” during a phone conversation with Marco Rubio, the United States’ incoming secretary of state, on Friday.
Speaking to Rubio for the first time since he was confirmed as US President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Wang Yi delivered the message.
“I hope you will act accordingly,” Wang told Rubio, according to a Foreign Ministry statement, employing a Chinese phrase typically used by a teacher or a boss warning a student or employee to behave and be responsible for their actions.
According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Wang said to Rubio, “I hope you will act accordingly.” This is a Chinese expression that is commonly used by a teacher or boss to caution a student or employee to behave and take responsibility for their conduct.
As a US senator, Rubio has been vocal in his criticism of China, which has caused an awkward relationship between the two countries. He has questioned China’s record on human rights. In 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned him twice.
Instead of using “act accordingly,” the Foreign Ministry has previously used “make the right choice” and “be very prudent about what they say or do.”
Zichen Wang, a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, the phrase’s ambiguity permits it to convey a hidden warning and an expectation while yet upholding the civility required for future diplomatic interactions.
Wang stated that what might seem confusing is actually an intended effect that comes from Chinese traditional wisdom and classic practice of speech.
Rubio mentioned during his confirmation hearing how crucial it is to read the original Chinese in order to comprehend what China’s leader, Xi Jinping, is saying.
He advised against reading the English translation they released since it is never accurate.
