BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement marking the third anniversary of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act being signed into law:
“In the three years since Congress came together to pass this legislation, Xi Jinping has done even more to destroy human rights, democracy, and rule of law in Hong Kong. We’ve watched in horror as the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong government arrested activists and journalists, corrupted the judiciary, and destroyed freedoms of speech, press, and assembly.
“In addition to stripping Hong Kongers of their basic rights, the Chinese government has targeted the business community. Apple Daily, a billion dollar media company, was seized without warning or reason. This should spark fear in every company operating within Hong Kong, and deter domestic and foreign business interests.
“Brave Hong Kongers such as Jimmy Lai, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, and other defendants, charged under the so-called ‘National Security Law’, are suffering under this severe crackdown.
“The Biden Administration should fully implement this legislation and other tools to demand accountability for China’s brutal and malign behavior. The people of Hong Kong are looking to the international community for leadership and accountability.
“Finally, we must remember that what happened in Hong Kong is a warning siren for Taiwan. China has made clear there is no such thing as “one country, two systems.” There is only one system China allows and that is authoritarianism. The administration must do more to deter Xi Jinping from aggression against Taiwan, so we don’t see history repeat itself.”
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