Duval Times

In a united effort, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkley, and Marsha Blackburn have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to highlight China's multiple human rights violations during the United Nations Human Rights Council's "universal periodic review" (UPR) process. The letter emphasizes the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) unjust treatment of American citizens and the horrific abuses against the Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, and Chinese human rights defenders.

The senators express their concern over the CCP's continued detention of at least three U.S. citizens, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and David Lin, and the ban on dozens of American businessmen and consultants from leaving the country. They also highlight the ongoing systematic genocide and crimes against humanity being committed by the CCP against the Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The senators further draw attention to the CCP's campaign to erase Tibetan history and culture in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan-majority regions. They condemn the forced enrollment of over a million Tibetan children into government-run boarding schools as part of a policy of forced cultural assimilation.

The deteriorating human rights situation in Hong Kong, as a result of the draconian 2020 National Security Law, is also highlighted in the letter. The senators express their concern over the mass imprisonment of pro-democracy lawmakers, journalists, and activists, as well as the closure of independent media and civil society groups.

Additionally, the senators raise the issue of the CCP's use of the legal system to intimidate, punish, and silence Chinese activists and rights defenders. They mention specific cases of individuals, such as Sophia Huang Xueqin, Wang Jianbing, and Gao Zhisheng, who have been targeted for advocating for human rights and criticizing government policies.

The letter concludes by urging Secretary Blinken to hold China accountable for its failure to ratify the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, despite its agreement to do so in response to a recommendation issued during the last UPR in 2018. The senators emphasize that China's treatment of its own people is indicative of how it may treat citizens of other countries if it expands its influence in global governance.

The senators' letter highlights the importance of addressing China's human rights abuses and holding the CCP accountable for its actions. As the United Nations prepares for the UPR process, it is crucial that the international community stands up for the principles of human rights and works towards ensuring the respect and protection of these rights for all individuals, regardless of their nationality or background.