Lawmakers Highlight Historical Actions of Chinese Communist Party Ahead of Xi Jinping's Visit

<p>As President Donald Trump prepares for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Angus King (I-Maine) are reminding the public of the actions taken by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since its founding over a century ago. The lawmakers have released a statement detailing various actions by the CCP that they describe as oppressive and tyrannical.</p><p>Lankford emphasized the importance of remembering the suffering of millions under the CCP as the U.S. engages with Beijing. He stated, "For 105 years, the Chinese Communist Party has oppressed its own people, persecuted people of faith and denied basic freedoms." He added that the U.S. must continue to advocate for religious freedom, human rights, and the dignity of every person.</p><p>The resolution presented by Lankford and King lists several historical instances of violence and repression by the CCP, including the Yan’an Rectification Movement from 1942 to 1945, which resulted in the deaths of more than 10,000 people, and the Chinese Land Reform movement from 1949 to 1953, during which between 200,000 and 5 million individuals were killed.</p><p>Additionally, the resolution notes the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries from 1950 to 1952, which involved millions of arrests and over 700,000 executions. It also references the CCP's recent actions, such as undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and the detention of an estimated 1 million Uyghur Muslims in reeducation camps.</p><p>Trump is scheduled to welcome Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday afternoon, with meetings expected to continue until Friday. Lawmakers are advocating for Trump to prioritize trade deals and agreements related to artificial intelligence during his discussions with Jinping.</p>