WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) led a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations questioning why China is on the United Nations’ Human Rights Council when they are the number one violator of human rights. Rep. McClain penned this letter following a troubling report this week regarding China’s horrific treatment of Christians. The letter requests the Biden Administration take action against the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights violations.
“China’s treatment of the Uyghurs is atrocious and reason enough for them to not have a seat on the UN Human Rights’ Council,” said Rep. McClain. “Now, we are seeing reports that the Chinese Communist Party is sending Christians to brainwashing camps and torturing them for their beliefs. It is past time we stand up for religious freedom. The Biden Administration needs to stand up to China.”
Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Ralph Norman (R-SC), William Timmons (R-SC), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Greg Steube (R-FL), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) Jody Hice (R-GA), Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Louis Gohmert (R-TX) joined Rep. McClain’s letter.
The letter is available here. The full text is below.
April 7, 2021
The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Mission to the United Nations
799 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Dear Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield,
I write to you today to stress the atrocities being committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against its own people. I am sure you and your office are well-versed on these human rights abuses. The utter hypocrisy that China is a member of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, when they are the number one violator of human rights, is absurd. My question to you is, what actions will you as the United States’ representative before the international community, take to punish the CCP for its crimes?
Last month, a report authored by several global experts in international law, genocide and the China region compared the CCP’s actions toward the Uyghur people against the provisions in the United Nations’ Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Their verdict? The Chinese government has violated every part of it.[1] As if these were not enough, just this past week Radio Free Asia reported the CCP sends Christians to brainwashing camps, subjecting them to torture, starvation and isolation in an effort to force their renunciation of their faith.[2] One can merely skim the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and safely conclude the CCP is in gross violation.
In addition to outright genocide, the CCP has been accused of several other human rights violations. As recently as February, the BBC reported eyewitness accounts of internment; systemic, mass rape; and forced sterilization.[3] Amnesty International estimates 1 million Uyghurs may currently be held against their will in these Orwellian, euphemistically labeled “transformation-through-education” camps. This estimate may be low.[4] From surveillance and restriction of movement to deportations to one of the 1,400 national detention facilities, these reports of genocide can no longer be ignored by you and the Biden Administration.
Madame Ambassador, I ask you the following:
- Will you and President Biden’s Administration finally acknowledge the brazen abuses and violations the CCP is perpetrating against millions of its citizens?
- Will you advocate for the rescission of China’s membership on the UN Human Rights Council?
- Will you speak up and demand action by the UN General Assembly for these heinous crimes against humanity?
- Will you galvanize President Biden to take drastic action to punish the CCP for its abhorrent crimes?
The world is watching how our country, the beacon of freedom and one that strives to protect the rights of all its citizens, will handle this situation. The Chinese Communist Party’s actions and morals contradict everything we as Americans stand for. As a representative of our nation on the world stage, with billions of eyes transfixed on you, I implore you to do your duty and call out the vile CCP for what it is, criminal.
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[1] Westcott, Ben, and Rebecca Wright. “Exclusive: New Report Claims Evidence of Beijing's 'Intent to Destroy' Uyghur People.” CNN, 10 Mar. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/03/09/asia/china-uyghurs-xinjiang-genocide-report-intl-hnk/index.html.
[2] Nuo, Li. “Chinese Christians Held in Secretive Brainwashing Camps: Sources.” Radio Free Asia, 1 Apr. 2021, www.rfa.org/english/news/china/christians-camps-04012021081013.html.
[3] Campanale, David, et al. “'Their Goal Is to Destroy Everyone': Uighur Camp Detainees Allege Systematic Rape.” BBC News, BBC, 2 Feb. 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55794071.
[4] Shesgreen, Deirdre. “The US Says China Is Committing Genocide against the Uyghurs. Here's Some of the Most Chilling Evidence.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 2 Apr. 2021, www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/2021/04/02/is-china-committing-genocide-what-you-need-know-uyghurs/7015211002/.
