|
|
Jim Risch on Foreign PolicyRepublican Jr Senator; previously Governor |
Congress approved the bills last week following months of unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. China's foreign ministry called the laws a "naked hegemonic action" that seriously interfered in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs, violated international law and "fundamental norms of international relations."
Democratic and Republican lawmakers applauded the signing of the bills. Sen. Jim Risch, an Idaho Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the bills are "an important step forward in holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and its repression of fundamental human rights."
Senator Risch's only response was to say he had received a letter from Secretary of State Michael Pompeo describing "ongoing efforts to seek justice." China reacted furiously to President Donald Trump's signing of two bills on Hong Kong human rights and said the U.S. will bear the unspecified consequences. A foreign ministry statement repeated heated condemnations of the laws and said China will counteract. It said all the people of Hong Kong and China oppose the move.
Congress approved the bills last week following months of unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. China's foreign ministry called the laws a "naked hegemonic action" that
Pastor Saeed Abedini, a pastor and resident of Boise, was seized by the Iranian government in 2012 and has been sentenced to eight years in prison for allegedly spreading Christianity. He was in Iran visiting family and working to build orphanages. The Resolution:
I am currently the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, a volatile area of the world in which there are many policy challenges for the U.S. I also am a member of the Subcommittee on African Affairs; Subcommittee on European Affairs; and Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Global Narcotics Affairs.
America cannot be the policeman to the world. It is, however, important that we recognize matters in which America has a national interest and engage appropriately exercising great restraint whenever military action is considered.
RESOLUTION expressing vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders:
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R.6256 and S.65): To ensure that goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China do not enter the United States market. This bill imposes importation limits on goods produced using forced labor in China, and imposes sanctions related to such forced labor. The bill also expands existing asset- and visa-blocking sanctions related to Xinjiang to cover foreign individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses in connection with forced labor.
Al Jazeera news, "Biden signs law banning goods made in China's Xinjiang region," 12/23/21: President Joe Biden signed a new law banning products made in China's Xinjiang region because of China's oppression of its largely Muslim Uighur minority population. The law imposes a near-blanket ban on the import to the US of goods from Xinjiang by requiring suppliers to first prove their products were not made with forced labour. Xinjiang is a large supplier of cotton and solar panels.
UN experts have estimated that more than one million people, mainly Uighurs, have been imprisoned in recent years in a vast system of camps in Xinjiang. The US and many rights groups have called it "genocide".
China has rejected allegations of abuse in Xinjiang, accusing countries and rights organisations of launching "slanderous attacks" about conditions for Muslim Uighurs in the far western region. An independent UK-based tribunal ruled last week the Chinese government had committed genocide, crimes against humanity and torture of Uighurs and other minorities. The US cited the situation in Xinjiang in a decision earlier this month to launch a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Legislative Outcome: Introduced in House and passed by voice vote on 12/14/2021; passed Senate by Unanimous Consent on 12/16/2021; signed by President on 12/23/2021.