As the world prepares to mark Human Rights Day, the brutal repression of human rights activists at the hands of the Chinese government was brought to light in their own words at a hearing today chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). The unique perspectives of these activists highlight how U.S. foreign policy is critical in the advancement of the fundamental rights of the Chinese people, and activists around the world.

     “It has been another dark and difficult year for human rights in China. China’s reformers, dissidents, and rights defenders face escalating repression.  President Xi Jinping has run roughshod over human rights and the U.S. government has managed only tepid responses,” said Smith, Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). “U.S. diplomacy is stuck with policies that no longer match Chinese realities.  Despite decades of remarkable economic growth, Beijing’s leaders are increasingly dismissive of ‘Western influence’ and hostile to both free societies and democratic capitalism. It is time to recognize that U.S. economic and political engagement strategies have failed to produce a freer China and remain cold comfort to China’s repressed human rights lawyers, religious and ethnic minority groups, journalists, and civil society leaders.” Click Here to Read Smith's Statement.

    Smith referenced the 2016 Annual Report of the Congressional Executive Commission on China saying it is the “gold standard” of human rights reporting on China. He said the CECC’s  Report and publications should be required reading for U.S. officials dealing with China, saying it makes a compelling case about the centrality of human rights to U.S. interests in Asia.

     “It is increasingly clear that there is direct link between China’s domestic human rights problems and the security and prosperity of the United States,” said Smith, who has held 61 hearings on China. “Losing sight of these facts leads to bad policy, bad diplomacy and the needless juxtaposition of values and interests. It also sends the wrong message to those in China standing courageously for greater freedoms, human rights and the rule of law.”

     “The next Administration faces major challenges in dealing with China. The U.S. must recognize that China’s internal repression drives its external aggression and develop new policy approaches that intertwine our principles and interests in the pivotal Asia-Pacific region,” said Smith.

Witnesses at the hearing included:

·         Penpa Tsering, a representative of the Dalai Lama. Click Here to read Tsering’s Statement.

·         Wei Jingsheng, The Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition. Click Here to read Jingsheng’s Statement.

·         Rebiya Kadeer, President of the World Uygur Congress. Click Here to read Kadeer’s Statement.

·         Chen Guangcheng, Chinese legal advocate and distinguished visiting fellow at Catholic University. Click Here to read Guangcheng’s Statement.

·         Bob Fu, Founder and President of ChinaAid. Click Here to read Fu’s Statement.

·         Yang Jianli, President of Initiatives for China/Citizen Power for China, Click Here to read Jianli’s Statement.

·         Xiaoan Wang, the daughter of former political prisoner Zhiwen Wang. Click Here to read Wang’s Statement.

     “The U.S. must learn the lessons of the past and listen to those who faced prison and persecution to advance human rights in China.  All of our witnesses today have paid a great price for simply seeking to advance universally-recognized rights.  They should be our guides in developing policy toward China,” concluded Smith.

     The Congressional-Executive Commission on China was created by Congress in October 2000 to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China, and to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. Members of the Commission include up to nine Representatives and nine Senators from both parties, along with five senior officials in the Executive Branch, representing the Department of State, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Commerce.

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