Trump gets tough on Xi Jinping over Hong Kong

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the House-passed Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and who has promoted human rights as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for forty years, said:

“Xi Jinping’s dictatorship is an existential threat to the people of Hong Kong, China itself, countries in the region and over time, the world.  After years of human rights admonishment and cheap rhetoric devoid of any meaningful penalties, Xi has concluded that the West is all talk, no action. President Trump, however, is today beginning to change that and is doing what previous presidents have failed to do.”

“It would be myopic for the world not to recognize Xi Jinping’s assault on Hong Kong including the new draconian national security legislation as part of the Chinese communist government’s exponential increase of abuse that includes genocide against Muslim Uyghurs, the massive crackdown on religious freedom, the pervasive use of torture against prisoners of conscience, coercive population control including forced abortion and COVID-19 lies that launched a pandemic.

“The United States—even if we have to go it alone—must impose sanctions,” Smith said.

Smith is a Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. He is also is a commissioner on the Congressional Executive Commission on China, which he previously chaired for two terms.