US-China panel urges Joe Biden to ‘shine light’ on political prisoners at Xi Jinping meeting at Apec

Congressional commission calls on American leader to raise concerns about Beijing’s rights abuses and demand immediate end to transnational repression

List of 40 political prisoners includes Uygurs, Tibetans, Hong Kong residents, Chinese human rights defenders, Christians and others

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Media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying (centre), seen escorted into the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2021, is among those named in the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s letter. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:00pm, 9 Nov 2023Updated: 6:15pm, 9 Nov 2023

An influential congressional panel urged US President Joe Biden at his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in San Francisco to discuss the plight of political prisoners, including arrested Hong Kong activists.

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) on Thursday called on American officials at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering next week to raise concerns about what it called Beijing’s domestic rights abuses, according to a letter issued by the bipartisan panel.

The commission, charged with monitoring human rights and the development of rule of law in China, also demanded in its letter an immediate end to Beijing’s transnational repression activities in the US.

The request to confront Chinese officials comes as the two countries prepare for a summit between Xi and Biden during Apec.

China’s human rights record, ranging from its policies in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous province to Hong Kong, has for years been a flashpoint in the bilateral relationship.