Republicans hawkish on China are calling on President Trump ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to push for the release of unjustly detained Americans and for Beijing to cease a campaign of religious and political persecution.
The meeting between Trump and Xi — set for Wednesday night, or Thursday morning in South Korea — largely focused on coming to a cease-fire in an escalating trade war. But Trump has made securing the release of Americans and those unjustly detained abroad a feature of his two terms in office.
“This administration has already, miraculously, gotten a lot of hostages out in other contexts and this could present an opportunity to further solidify a legacy of freeing prisoners in multiple high stakes regions,” said Bill Drexel, the son-in-law of Pastor Ezra Jin, who Chinese authorities arrested on Oct 10 for his role as a leader in the underground Zion Church. All three of Jin’s children are American citizens
Drexel said that they have heard from his father-in-law intermittently through a lawyer, and expressed concern that Jin is not able to access needed medication for his diabetes.
“What we understand is that initially he wasn’t given any medication. They still aren’t allowing him to have his prescribed medication, but the state has provided some other medicine. And he’s in with roughly 30 or so other individuals in a shared cell. Those are the main outlines of what we know so far.”
Earlier this month, Trump secured the release of 20 hostages held by Hamas for over two years, after earlier securing the release of Americans held by Hamas. The administration said in May Trump had secured the release of 47 Americans detained abroad.
That focus is reassuring for individuals advocating for the release of their loved ones — and their allies in Congress.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Reps. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) sent a letter to Trump on Oct. 22 calling for the president to prioritize Jin’s release, as well as six other cases.
This includes two Americans accused of drug-smuggling who lawmakers say are victims of trafficking; a lawful permanent U.S. resident arrested for creating artwork critical of the Chinese government; the families of journalists who worked for the U.S.-government outlet, Radio Free Asia; and the sister of a Uyghur human rights activist based in the U.S.
Other key Republican advocates include Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who led a bipartisan group of senators on a resolution condemning Jin’s arrest and other members of the Zion church. The resolution was introduced this week and referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In a separate campaign, a bipartisan coalition of more than 20 senators wrote to Trump on Oct. 23 urging the president to push Xi to release Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong businessman and publisher whose arrest in 2020 is criticized as politically motivated.
Among the signatories include some of Trump’s top allies: Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fl.), who also signed onto the letter, told The Hill on Wednesday that he expects Trump to raise Lai’s imprisonment when he meets with Xi.
“I think he’s focused on getting him released,” Scott said.
Senate Republicans also want tougher action against China for its persecution of religious minorities.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), who also signed the letter for Lai, introduced a bill on Monday to sanction Chinese officials who persecuted religious minorities, including Christians. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.).
“China’s disdain for religious freedom is not new. It is an ongoing and brutal pattern of abuse that must be met with steadfast American strength,” Budd wrote in a statement.
“As the leader of the free world, the United States must promote religious freedom around the world and hold China’s authoritarian regime responsible for decades of persecution targeting Christians and other religious minorities. The CCP’s restrictions on freedom of religion and cruelty toward religious minorities in China must come to an end.”
Co-sponsors include Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Blackburn and Sullivan. In the House, Reps. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) are also co-sponsors.
The Hill reached out to the Chinese Embassy in D.C. for comment.
