A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to call out Chinese President Xi Jinping on Christian persecution, as well as the persecution against other religions.
The letter, led by Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), thanked Trump for his previous pressure on China that led to the release of Pastor Ezra Jin. The senators wrote, “Building on your successful engagement leading to the release of Pastor Ezra Jin, we request that you continue keeping those persecuted for their faith in China, including ethnic and religious minority groups such as Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Uyghur Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners, top of mind in conversations with President Xi.”
They requested that upon meeting with President Xi, Trump bring up “the cases of remaining pastors like Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu and Pastor Tang Bingyi of Light of Zion Church in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province and the remaining eight members of Zion Church in Beijing: Gao Yingjia, Wang Lin, Yin Huibin, Wang Zhong, Wang Cong, Liu Zhenbin, Lin Shucheng and Wu Qiuyu.”
Joining Budd and Kaine in the letter were Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Peter Welch (D-VT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tim Scott (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Budd and Kaine led a letter in March specifically requesting that Trump put pressure on China to release Ezra Jin Mingri. The lawmakers urged President Trump to seek a resolution to Jin’s detention, as well as those detained from other churches, and implement sanctions and visa restrictions on those responsible for violations of religious freedom.
