US Republican Senator Marco Rubio mounted a fierce criticism of China Thursday as it named its new president, saying the Asian giant tortures its citizens, uses forced labor and is bent on global superiority. Rubio, a rising political star seen as a possible 2016 presidential candidate, offered his critique at the conservative policy conference CPAC, where he said communist Beijing's goal was to surpass US influence. "While we are bickering (about budget and tax and spending policies), there is a nation trying to supplant us as the leading power in the world," Rubio warned.

JERUSALEM, Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toasted their nations' close ties on Wednesday with a click of plastic water bottles reminiscent of the Republican's sip seen 'round the world in Washington last week. Photographers captured the cross-table gesture in Netanyahu's office moments after Rubio remarked how Israel resides "in a challenging neighbourhood," and he was "pleased" President Barack Obama would be visiting Israel next month.

US Senator Marco Rubio, in the Republican response to Tuesday's State of the Union, challenged President Barack Obama to abandon his tax "obsession" and find a way to boost growth and cut the deficit. The rising political star from Florida, who is regularly mentioned as a 2016 presidential candidate, laid out the framework of his party's economic vision, in excerpts of his formal response released ahead of Obama's address.