China’s near-control of the world’s antibiotic market poses a major threat to the well-being of the public, according to Sen. Marco Rubio.

China oversees much of the world’s pharmaceutical production, including the production of antibiotics and other drugs that could be used to treat patients with COVID-19. During a Monday interview on Fox News, Rubio told host Tucker Carlson that the United States must work to regain control of pharmaceutical production.

"The theory around here, for a long time, as you well know, was: 'Don’t worry. We're going to open up to China, and capitalism is going to change China,' and instead, it’s China that's changed capitalism and weaponized it," Rubio said. "We gave away these industries."

He said that the Chinese Communist Party published a thinly veiled threat in its newspaper to cut off the U.S. from many drugs needed by Americans in response to criticisms about China’s handling of the coronavirus. Rubio explained that many generic drugs the public depends on are produced in China.

"The majority, almost entirely the active ingredients [of generic drugs] are coming from China. So, this is not just the threat with coronavirus. We're talking about high blood pressure and other essential medicines that people take. We could have a shortage, even if it’s not deliberate," the Florida Republican said.

Rubio has been a vocal critic of China since entering the Senate. Many lawmakers have questioned China’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, including Sen. Tom Cotton, who called for “serious consequences” against the Communist Party.