Florida's Senator Marco Rubio, nominated by president-elect Donald Trump as Secretary of State, sharply criticised China's global ambitions during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, singling out Beijing's involvement in the Panama Canal as a significant threat to US national security.

Among President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio may face the easiest confirmation process.

A veteran of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio is widely seen as one of Trump's least controversial Cabinet picks and is expected to sail through the nomination process.

Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, will face questions from his Senate colleagues on Wednesday morning.

Marco Rubio drew bipartisan support among Senate Foreign Relations Committee members at Wednesday's hearing and appears headed for confirmation under President-elect Donald Trump's administration.

Rubio is seen as a steady foreign policy hand who has the confidence of Trump and Senate colleagues from both parties.

Officials in Beijing have criticized Marco Rubio's comments on China and labeled them "unwarranted attacks." Rubio on Wednesday condemned China as "dangerous."

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, is pledging to press Thailand to prevent the deportation of 48 Uyghurs held there since 2014 after fleeing alleged persecution in Xinjiang, in northwest China.

Donald Trump and Chinese Presi­dent Xi Jinping spoke by phone, days before the incoming US president returns to the White House, with both leaders vowing to take a positive approach to improving ties between the rival countries.

Japanese Foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya; Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong; and Jaishankar will have the opportunity to meet US Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the inauguration.