Marco Rubio actually said...

We're talking about the government, particularly the Chinese Communist Party, and the way it treats its own people.

Rubio clarifies that criticism is aimed at the Chinese government, not its people.

02/28/2017

More Marco Rubio Quotes

closing the strait would be tantamount to economic suicide for Iran

If Iran were to call right now, and say 'we wanna meet, let's talk about this,' we're prepared to do that.

I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil

It was not an attack on Iran. It was not an attack on the Iranian people. This wasn't a regime change move.