WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement ahead of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 20th Party Congress, which begins this Sunday in Beijing:
“As the 20th Party Congress begins this weekend and Xi Jinping consolidates his power and preaches ‘common development for all mankind,’ the CCP’s widespread campaign of oppression and economic instability will continue. From its predatory economic behavior to the crushing of the religious and cultural autonomy of Tibet, its campaign of genocide against the Uyghur people, its unrealistic ‘zero COVID’ policies, and the imposition and exportation of digital authoritarianism – the Communist Party today under Xi is more active and more emboldened than ever before.
“Xi also continues to crush Hong Kong. Just one example is the unjust trial of Jimmy Lai, journalist and pro-democracy advocate. Not only are Mr. Lai and his associates faced with sham charges, but their multi-million dollar company Apple Daily was completely and unexpectedly seized by the Chinese government. You can’t achieve ‘common development’ when the government can take away your freedom and private assets at the drop of a hat.
“A country truly committed to ‘addressing the world’s security challenges’ does not threaten war, as Xi is doing to Taiwan. China is also providing metals and energy to prop up Russia’s grotesque war in Ukraine. Xi securing a third term will only continue this path of repression, economic coercion, and regional instability. Despite the many global events competing for our attention, there is no question that the decisions made at this meeting will have direct implications for the interests of the United States and those of our allies.”
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