US Congress steps up China hearings ahead of Trump-Xi meeting — South China Morning Post
In the United States, lawmakers critical of China held a series of hearings this week on human rights, trade, technology and supply chains ahead of the expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. As South China Morning Post reports, the activity of members of Congress is intended to draw the president’s attention to these issues during talks with Beijing.
The US House Select Committee on China, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the House Foreign Affairs Committee held hearings this week. A former senior US official told the publication that Republicans in Congress initially gave Trump broad room for negotiations with Beijing, but that room is now narrowing as China-related initiatives advance.
Human rights and Beijing’s influence
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took part in an unofficial hearing organized by Democrats on human rights in China. She criticized the Trump administration for focusing on economic benefits at the expense of political issues and human rights. “If we do not speak out about human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose any moral authority to speak out about human rights anywhere in the world,” Pelosi said.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said Beijing opposes the use of human rights and Hong Kong issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs, as well as the politicization of trade and technology. He called for dialogue to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee also considered covert foreign influence operations in the United States, during which China was repeatedly mentioned as a US rival and a source of risks to American society. A separate hearing was devoted to repression by China and North Korea. Among its participants was Sylvia Zinn, the wife of US citizen and Myanmar specialist researcher Min Zinn. He was detained in China in June on suspicion of espionage and actions posing a threat to national security.
Trade and sanctions against buyers of Russian energy resources
The House Select Committee on China focused at its Wednesday meeting on import restrictions and supply-chain risks related to China. Next Tuesday, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China plans a hearing on political prisoners in the country.
The US Congress also passed a bill on sanctions against the aggressor state, the Russian Federation, which could potentially affect China. The document allows Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy resources. Beijing said its economic cooperation with other countries should not face obstruction or coercion from the United States.
The Trump-Xi meeting is expected in Washington on September 24; the White House is also planning a state dinner. Before it, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have already held discussions, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are due to meet this weekend.
