Republican candidate Rubio rips into China's Xi

Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio on Friday accused Xi Jinping of seeking to undermine US interests, in a notably personal attack ahead of the Chinese president's visit to Washington. Rubio -- a Florida lawmaker who sits on the Senate foreign relations committee -- singled out the Chinese leader, as he branded Beijing's record on human rights a "disgrace." China has been a popular whipping boy for Republicans on the campaign trail, particularly following the global stock sell-off that may say was triggered by Beijing revaluing its currency. Another Republican White House contender, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, has called on President Barack Obama to cancel a planned state dinner with Xi. But Rubio's tone was more markedly personal. While stating "China presents both opportunities and challenges for our people," he went on to lay blame at the door not just of Beijing, but of Xi personally. "Xi Jinping is trying to convince his country’s 1.3 billion people that the way to re-establish Chinese greatness is to undermine the United States and enhance China's influence at our expense," Rubio said, according to prepared remarks. "He is asserting control over the East and South China Seas, through which more than half of global commerce passes each day." "Under Xi Jinping's rule, China has intensified its campaign to push America out of Asia," Rubio said. "China aims to make it so costly and difficult for America to get involved in the region that we won’t bother. In short, China is doing everything it can to make the 21st century a Chinese Century."