Press Release
Smith: Sanctions on China must follow declaration on the loss of autonomy in Hong Kong In response to Secretary Mike Pompeo that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ranking Member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said the following:
Smith said: "The United States and the world can no longer enable—however unwittingly—the Chinese government's massive crimes against humanity including violations of the Basic Law and, as Secretary Pompeo stated today, the loss of autonomy in Hong Kong, Xi Jinping's genocide against the Uyghurs, 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. “Xi's dictatorship is an existential threat to the people of China, 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. For the sake of vulnerable people everywhere, the United States—even if we have to go it alone—must impose sanctions." Click here to read Rep. Smith's remarks on the House floor today during consideration of the Uyghur Human Right Policy Act. ###
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