By Li Yihua
Published May 14, 2026 at 7:27

             Capitol Hill — On Wednesday (May 13), both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate successively passed resolutions by unanimous consent, calling upon the U.S. President—in his future engagements with Chinese leaders—to prioritize efforts to secure the release of numerous political prisoners and religious figures, including Jimmy Lai and Pastor Jin Mingri. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on the same day and is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

             On Wednesday evening, the House of Representatives passed the resolution by a vote of 414 to 0. The measure urges the President, in his future meetings with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, to prioritize advocating for the release of individuals currently detained in China, including Pastor Jin Mingri (Senior Pastor of Zion Church), Pastor Gao Quanfu of Zion’s Light Church and his wife Pang Yu, Uyghur physician Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong’s Next Digital.

             The Senate also passed an identical resolution by unanimous consent later on Wednesday evening.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed Resolution H. Res. 1259, calling upon the President to prioritize advocating for the release of numerous political prisoners and religious figures—including Jimmy Lai and Pastor Jin Mingri—during meetings with Chinese leaders. (May 13, 2026)

             The House version of the resolution was introduced by Republican Congressman Chris Smith—a long-time advocate for human rights issues in China—and garnered strong bipartisan support from lawmakers.

             "House Resolution 1259 addresses precisely these individuals who are being unjustly detained," Congressman Smith, who represents New Jersey, stated during a floor speech on Wednesday morning.

             Smith continued: "I would like to remind my colleagues that I have served in Congress for 46 years, and throughout that time, I have consistently worked to champion the cause of political prisoners around the world—dating back to the Soviet era. We have consistently found that when the United States calls out political prisoners by name, it is an effective strategy. President Reagan frequently did this during his tenure, as did his Secretary of State, George Shultz; by publicly naming specific individuals, they helped ensure that many of those receiving such solidarity were ultimately released. This approach also helps secure access for lawyers, family members, and medical visits—and can even save lives. Moreover, it truly does help bring about their release."

             During his floor remarks, Congressman Smith urged President Trump—who is currently visiting Beijing—to raise the issue of political prisoners in China, along with other human rights concerns, during his talks with President Xi Jinping. “This is important. It is important to their families; it is important to every prisoner confined in a cell for daring to pray, publish, speak out, worship, or advocate for fundamental human rights and freedoms,” Smith said. “It is also important to the Chinese Communist Party, because when the President of the United States calls them out by name, autocrats listen.”

             “Silence is not an option. Silence tells the jailers that no one is watching. Silence tells the prisoners that the world has moved on and no longer cares. Silence tells Beijing that hostage diplomacy, coercive exit bans, and transnational repression can be normalized. None of this can be normalized. We will not remain silent, and we pray and hope that the President will succeed.”

             The resolution states that the House of Representatives believes that, in his future meetings with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, the President should prioritize advocating for the release of those detained in China—specifically Pastor Jin Mingri, Senior Pastor of Zion Church; Pastor Gao Quanfu of Zion’s Light Church and his wife, Pang Yu; Uyghur physician Gulshan Abbas; and Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong’s Next Digital.

             Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), one of the sponsors of the Senate version of the resolution, stated in a written statement: “The Chinese Communist Party is an authoritarian regime that imprisons dissidents, suppresses religious believers, and violates fundamental freedoms. By passing this bipartisan resolution, the Senate signals that the United States will continue to strive for the release of those unjustly detained and hold the CCP accountable for these detentions.”

             Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Senate Democratic Whip who co-sponsored the resolution with Senator Cruz, also stated: “No one should have to fear for their safety or face political imprisonment for standing up for democracy and freedom.”

             “Now that this resolution has passed the Senate, I urge President Trump to raise these cases with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China,” said Senator Durbin of Illinois.

             On October 10, 2025, Pastor Jin Mingri of Zion Church—along with 17 other pastors and staff members—was detained by Chinese authorities on charges of “illegally using an information network.” If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of three years in prison. In recent years, Chinese authorities have expanded the scope of this charge to encompass unauthorized religious activities. On May 17, 2025, Pastor Gao Quanfu of Xi'an Zion Light Church was detained; he is currently being held on charges of "using superstitious activities to undermine the implementation of the law" and "fraud." His wife was subsequently detained on June 7; despite holding no formal position within the church, she remains in custody to this day.

             Gulshan Abbas is a retired physician. On September 11, 2018—shortly after her sister, a U.S. citizen, publicly criticized the People's Republic of China government's treatment of the Uyghur people—she was forcibly disappeared. Dr. Abbas was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison following a secret trial.

             Jimmy Lai, the founder of Hong Kong's Next Digital and *Apple Daily*, has been imprisoned since late 2020, when he was arrested by Hong Kong police on fraud charges. Subsequently, the Hong Kong government charged Lai with additional offenses under the National Security Law, including "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces." In February 2026, the 78-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

             Prior to departing for China, Trump stated that he would raise the cases of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and Chinese pastor Jin Mingri during his meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

             On Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in the United States posted on its social media platform, X, stating that "four red lines in China-U.S. relations must never be challenged." Accompanying the post was a graphic card identifying the first red line as the Taiwan issue; the second as democracy and human rights; the third as the political system; and the fourth as China's right to development. "When two superpowers meet, no topic should be off the table," Representative Smith said in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) on Wednesday.

             "The leader of the free world is Donald Trump; I believe he is an exceptional leader who holds a deep commitment to human rights and a profound concern for the Chinese people—a concern directed not at the unfortunate government that oppresses its people, but at the Chinese people themselves. Therefore, we—and the U.S. Congress—will stand firmly in solidarity with those who suffer for the sake of pursuing freedom and democracy," Smith said.

             Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan and Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, was a co-sponsor of the resolution. Following its passage, he issued a statement declaring: "No government has the right to imprison an individual simply because of their beliefs, their faith, or their voice. This resolution makes it clear that the United States will not remain silent when the Chinese Communist Party detains courageous individuals for exercising their fundamental freedoms. These individuals are not criminals; they are voices for truth and human dignity. We must continue to press for their release and ensure that their cases remain a top priority whenever the United States engages with Xi Jinping and the CCP."