China's Foreign Ministry unleashed a barrage of criticism at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Monday over recent comments on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and a range of topics sensitive to Beijing.Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department by email with a request for comment.Why It MattersRubio earned China's ire during his time representing Florida in the U.S. Senate, where he introduced legislation supporting Taiwan and targeting Chinese officials allegedly involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.During a recent interview with independent news site Catherine Herridge Reports, Rubio said the "evidence is compelling" COVID-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan—a theory backed by the CIA. While acknowledging the importance of maintaining communication with the Asian power, he warned it seeks to dominate the Indo-Pacific region.What To Know"Rubio's remarks are steeped in the Cold-War mentality and full of lies and false accusations. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the U.S.," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters.Turning to remarks made by Rubio in support of Taiwan's inclusion in global forums and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Lin reiterated China's sovereignty claim over the island, which he called the "most critical, sensitive, and explosive question in China-U.S. relations."If the U.S. does not hope to trigger confrontation, they must stop crossing or trampling on the red line of the Taiwan question," the spokesperson added.The government of Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, fled to the island in 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedong's Communist Party and functions as its own state with a military, economy, and diplomatic relations.Lin also issued a rebuke over the tariffs levied on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods introduced by President Donald Trump during his first term and maintained by the Biden administration.The U.S.'s efforts to "politicize and weaponize trade" will only hurt its own economic interests and credibility, he said.On COVID, Lin demanded the U.S. cease its "scapegoating" of China. He cited the World Health Organization's pandemic-era assessment that it was "extremely unlikely" the novel virus escaped from a lab.The global health body has since voiced concern over the questions marks still surrounding the virus's origins in December, urging the country to be more forthcoming with related information."We will be committed to viewing and developing our relations with the U.S. on the basis of the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping, Lin concluded. "Meanwhile, we will firmly defend national sovereignty, security and development interests."What's Been SaidLin Chia-lung, Taiwan Foreign Minister, said in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter):"Grateful to Secretary Rubio for reaffirming strong U.S. support for Taiwan, opposing forceful changes to the status quo and backing our international participation. Taiwan will keep strengthening self-defense and working with the U.S. to uphold peace, stability and prosperity in the region."What's Next?Rubio was one of several legislators China hit with largely symbolic countersanctions, including a travel ban, after the U.S. sanctioned Hong Kong officials involved in the crackdown on democracy in the special administrative region.It's uncertain how Beijing will navigate this awkward situation now that Rubio is America's top diplomat.Rubio touched another nerve last week while defending the U.S.'s about-face on negotiations with Russia under Trump. He argued it was not in Washington's interest for Moscow to be "permanently a junior partner to China," referencing Russia's economic dependence on its neighbor amid international sanctions over Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.China's Foreign Ministry hit back, saying it was "completely futile" to drive a wedge between the two allies.