Forty US senators jointly urge the Biden administration to strongly respond to Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong people.
According to Reuters, on Wednesday (15th), 40 out of 100 US senators jointly introduced a resolution urging the US government to respond strongly to China's crackdown on Hong Kong dissidents, including using sanctions and other means.
Reuters saw the resolution supported by 40 bipartisan lawmakers before it was announced. Currently, US lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to take a tougher stance on rising China in a range of broad issues.
The resolution is not binding but aims to convey a strong message that US legislators are closely monitoring events in China and will respond.
In 2020, China forcibly passed and implemented the Hong Kong version of national security law, which includes illegal acts such as "subverting state power" punishable by life imprisonment. The law has been criticized by some Western countries as a tool for suppressing dissenters, but Beijing and the Hong Kong government claim that it has restored stability in Hong Kong after prolonged democratic protests in 2019.
Senator Jim Risch, Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a statement: "This resolution calls for all wrongfully accused defendants to be released and encourages the U.S. government and democratic partners to use all available tools to hold Beijing and Hong Kong authorities accountable."
Committee Chairman Bob Menendez also said in a statement: "As we continue our efforts across all aspects of strengthening America's policy towards China, I look forward to ensuring swift passage of this bipartisan resolution."
In addition to other matters, the resolution condemns the Hong Kong version of national security law; supports Hongkongers' struggle for basic rights and freedoms; condemns false charges made for political reasons; imprisonment of pro-democracy activists; tycoons from Hong Kong; Jimmy Lai Chee-ying founder of Apple Daily newspaper which has ceased publication.
Accordingly with Taiwan Central News Agency report earlier this year at least 12 thousand people have been arrested since June last year due their involvement with anti-extradition bill movement while around six thousand cases remain unresolved according police data up until October last year.
Reuters saw the resolution supported by 40 bipartisan lawmakers before it was announced. Currently, US lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to take a tougher stance on rising China in a range of broad issues.
The resolution is not binding but aims to convey a strong message that US legislators are closely monitoring events in China and will respond.
In 2020, China forcibly passed and implemented the Hong Kong version of national security law, which includes illegal acts such as "subverting state power" punishable by life imprisonment. The law has been criticized by some Western countries as a tool for suppressing dissenters, but Beijing and the Hong Kong government claim that it has restored stability in Hong Kong after prolonged democratic protests in 2019.
Senator Jim Risch, Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a statement: "This resolution calls for all wrongfully accused defendants to be released and encourages the U.S. government and democratic partners to use all available tools to hold Beijing and Hong Kong authorities accountable."
Committee Chairman Bob Menendez also said in a statement: "As we continue our efforts across all aspects of strengthening America's policy towards China, I look forward to ensuring swift passage of this bipartisan resolution."
In addition to other matters, the resolution condemns the Hong Kong version of national security law; supports Hongkongers' struggle for basic rights and freedoms; condemns false charges made for political reasons; imprisonment of pro-democracy activists; tycoons from Hong Kong; Jimmy Lai Chee-ying founder of Apple Daily newspaper which has ceased publication.
Accordingly with Taiwan Central News Agency report earlier this year at least 12 thousand people have been arrested since June last year due their involvement with anti-extradition bill movement while around six thousand cases remain unresolved according police data up until October last year.
