Merkley Decries Senate Republicans’ Opposition to His Bipartisan Resolution Condemning PRC’s Transnational Repression

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley-a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)-released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked his bipartisan resolution condemning the People's Republic of China (PRC) for engaging in repression, coercion, and intimidation beyond its own borders, targeting citizens of other nations, including in the United States:

"Journalists, activists, and everyday people who have spoken truth to power about China's oppression are being bullied, intimidated, and targeted far beyond China's borders. As long as the PRC continues this campaign of oppression, the United States cannot remain silent.

"Senate Republicans, however, blocked my resolution to condemn the Chinese government for this repression, which targets Americans too. Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Xi Jinping as he visits the U.S. this week, and this rejection absolutely sends the wrong message.

"I'll keep making the case to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that we must oppose all acts of transnational repression-no matter the perpetrator."

Merkley has led the charge to strengthen U.S. policy to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault people in America and across borders. He leads the Transnational Repression Policy Act-bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would tackle the growing threat of transnational repression, elevate countering transnational repression as a key U.S. foreign policy priority, and promote diplomacy that addresses it as part of a broader strategy to advance democratic principles and human rights at home and abroad.

Full text of Merkley's bipartisan resolution that passed out of committee can be found by clicking here.

###