Americans weary of the deep partisan divide over impeachment, healthcare, immigration and just about every other major issue in this election year can take heart in the US Congress’ consideration of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019.
The legislation, which supports the distinct national, cultural and religious identity of Tibet as an autonomous region of China, is backed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities and demonstrates that Republicans and Democrats can come together on at least some foreign-policy issues.
It was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Democratic US Representative James McGovern, the chair of the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and in the US Senate by Republican US Senator Marco Rubio, commission cochair. The two have worked together on a range of China-related issues.
The House debate was led by McGovern for the Democrats and US Representative Michael McCaul for the Republicans. It was replete with expressions of mutual appreciation for the other side’s commitment to human rights and religious liberty in China.
McCaul offered high praise for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s consistent leadership over the years in exposing and condemning China’s gross violation of human rights and suppression of democratic aspirations.
Pelosi, a Democrat, in turn, recounted the contributions of Rubio and other congressional Republicans, especially former US representative Frank Wolf, in US efforts to press China on democracy and human rights issues.
The Tibet legislation passed the House by a vote of 399 to 22, and is expected to receive overwhelming support in the Senate. The favorable attention to the human rights situation in Tibet follows the pattern established by Congress in previous China-related acts passed with near-unanimity.
In December last year, Congress passed the Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response and Protection Act of 2019.
The purpose of the legislation was “to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of these communities inside and outside China.” It passed the House by a vote of 407-1.
The legislation followed yet another bipartisan measure that supports Hong Kong’s months-long pro-democracy movement. It requires the US Department of State to conduct an annual review to ensure that the territory’s autonomous political structure is maintained as a condition for continuing favorable US-China trade relations.
Passed overwhelmingly and signed into law by US President Donald Trump, it authorizes the US to impose sanctions on officials responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong.
In all these actions — on Tibet, the Uighurs and Hong Kong — the House and Senate have demonstrated their agreement with the work of the McGovern-Rubio commission, which states as its underlying principle that “US foreign policy must prioritize the promotion of universal human rights and the rule of law in China, not only to respect and protect the basic dignity of the people of China, but to better promote security and prosperity for all of humanity.”
In parallel with the legislative measures that address the human rights issues in China, Congress has repeatedly taken action to support the democratic security of Taiwan. It passed the Taiwan Travel Act, which encourages high-level visits and exchanges between Taiwanese and US officials to reaffirm the commitment expressed in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.
The US president signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law, despite China’s strong objections.
McCaul and US Representative Eliot Engel introduced the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019 calling for a fresh review of bilateral relations with Taiwan, “with the intent to deepen and expand United States-Taiwan relations ... based on the value, merits and importance of the United States-Taiwan relationship.”
The measure says that “Taiwan is a free and open society that respects universal human rights and democratic values,” and passed the House by a voice vote.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 includes a provision requiring the director of national intelligence to submit a report to Congress on Chinese interference in Taiwan’s Jan. 11 elections. The report is due this month.
Congress’ strong determination to take on China’s deplorable human rights record in Tibet, East Turkestan/Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and to affirm the US’ commitment to Taiwan, offers important lessons for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Trump.
For Xi, it means that Congress, reflecting US public opinion, has no further tolerance for the CCP’s grievous mistreatment of the people it rules in violation of all international norms, and its aggressive ambitions toward Taiwan. Other countries are also expressing their distaste for Beijing’s domestic governance as the Chinese Communist Party edges precariously toward international pariah status.
Trump should ensure that his administration faithfully carries out all of Congress’ human rights and Taiwan mandates. They strengthen his hand in dealing with the Chinese communist regime, and their cumulative effect provides a unique opportunity for him to grasp the leadership role on human rights with a willing and supportive Congress behind him.
Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against North Korea included moral condemnation of its atrocious human rights record, virtually declaring that North Koreal leader Kim Jong-un’s regime is unfit to govern.
That threw a scare into Kim and opened the door to the possibility of serious denuclearization talks. Regrettably, the advantage was forfeited with the diplomatic lovefest and Xi’s intervention to stiffen Kim’s spine.
Trump could strike a decisive blow for political reform in China and North Korea by seizing on the building congressional momentum regarding human rights.
The opening is widened by global resentment at Beijing’s mishandling of the 2019 novel coronavirus epidemic. The regime’s inclination to favor government secrecy over the free flow of essential public information was a major factor in the spread of earlier pandemics and public health crises such as SARS, swine flu, bird flu and HIV/AIDS.
Trump should call on Xi to emulate the model performance of Taiwan on all those earlier urgent challenges, and to take advantage of its superlative expertise in public health. Allowing Taiwan to participate fully in the WHO would afford Xi the opportunity to make a badly needed demonstration of statesmanship and meet China’s obligation to the international community.
Trump should encourage his Chinese friend to act responsibly and respond to the wake-up calls he is receiving from Congress and the global community.
Joseph Bosco served as China country director in the office of the US secretary of defense. He is a fellow at the Institute for Taiwan-American Studies and a member of the advisory committee of the Global Taiwan Institute.
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