Congress Passes Resolutions Urging Trump to Press Xi on Political Prisoners

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday passed resolutions urging President Donald Trump to confront Chinese leader Xi Jinping on political prisoners currently held in state custody by China. The House measure passed in a 414–0 vote. H.Res. 1259, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), cochair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, names five individuals who he said were “unfairly punished” by Beijing for exercising freedom of speech and religion. “Shamefully, the People’s Republic of China currently detains thousands of political and religious prisoners, which include American citizens and the family members of U.S. nationals,” Smith previously told The Epoch Times....