U.S. lawmakers condemn China's detention of citizens amid reports of transnational repression

Ahead of an upcoming meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. officials, reports have emerged regarding Chinese authorities' use of pressure tactics against the families of dissidents living abroad. Several activists in the United States reported that their relatives in mainland China have been harassed or threatened by security personnel, which they describe as an extension of China’s transnational repression intended to create a ‘chilling effect’ on overseas protests.

Simultaneously, bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress have introduced resolutions in both the House and Senate condemning the Chinese government for the arbitrary detention of American citizens. The resolutions specifically call for the safe return of scholars such as Youlin Chen and Min Zin, whom the U.S. government has identified as victims of ‘wrongful detention.’

Lawmakers are urging the State Department to prioritize the release of all Americans held in China, warning that the Chinese Communist Party uses citizens as hostages to bully and coerce the U.S. government. Advocates for the detainees are calling for these issues to be addressed directly during high-level diplomatic engagements.