Home | News | U.S. Congress Joined Force in Three Bills Target China’s Human Rights and Security Practices Depart From Trump’s Trade Push

U.S. Congress Joined Force in Three Bills Target China’s Human Rights and Security Practices Depart From Trump’s Trade Push

Senator Jeff Merkley, is a member of the Appropriations Committee, where he chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Regulatory Oversight; the Budget Committee; the Rules Committee; and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is also the Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

By Mark Wang

July 29, 2025
3:43 pm
Los Angeles, CA

As President Donald Trump advances trade talks with Beijing, lawmakers in Congress are preparing a coordinated legislative response to confront China on human rights, security, and its growing assertiveness abroad. This week, a group of bipartisan senators and representatives will introduce three bills that seek to hold Beijing accountable for a range of issues, including the treatment of ethnic minorities, suppression of dissidents overseas, and escalating pressure on Taiwan. The effort comes amid growing unease among lawmakers that Trump’s trade agenda is overshadowing critical security concerns and long-standing American values. Three Bills, One Message The proposed legislation, backed by Democrats and Republicans alike, represents a rare moment of unity in a sharply divided Congress. According to drafts reviewed by Reuters, the bills aim to: Penalize human rights abuses:

This week, a group of bipartisan senators and representatives will introduce three bills that seek to hold Beijing accountable for a range of issues, including the treatment of ethnic minorities, suppression of dissidents overseas, and escalating pressure on Taiwan.

The effort comes amid growing unease among lawmakers that Trump’s trade agenda is overshadowing critical security concerns and long-standing American values.

Three Bills, One Message

The proposed legislation, backed by Democrats and Republicans alike, represents a rare moment of unity in a sharply divided Congress. According to drafts reviewed by Reuters, the bills aim to:

Penalize human rights abuses: One bill, co-sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), would deny entry to Chinese officials involved in the forced repatriation of Uyghur Muslims, a group that human rights organizations say has faced mass detention, surveillance, and cultural erasure in Xinjiang. China denies these allegations.

Strengthen Taiwan’s standing: Another bill, led by Representative John Curtis (R-UT), supports diplomatic efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean to recognize Taiwan. It also calls for deeper U.S.-Taiwan cooperation, responding to Beijing’s military and political moves to isolate the island, which it considers a breakaway province.

Combat foreign repression abroad: The third bill, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), targets “transnational repression”—efforts by foreign governments, including China, to harass or intimidate critics living overseas.

“No matter who is in the White House, our leadership must reflect a clear, principled stand for freedom and human rights,” said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), a lead sponsor of all three bills. “We cannot afford to be passive in the face of China’s global aggression.”

Trump’s Trade Agenda Sparks Divisions

While Congress takes a harder line, Trump is focused on securing a major trade deal with China, emphasizing economic goals such as boosting U.S. exports and curbing the flow of fentanyl into the United States. He also continues to cultivate a personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“President Trump is committed to advancing American interests and leveling the playing field for U.S. industries,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. She declined to comment directly on the pending legislation.

Analysts and some lawmakers warn that this emphasis on economic gains could clash with broader U.S. national security priorities.

“Trump cares about trade and market access—that’s his core interest—but that can come at the expense of other strategic goals,” said Michael Sobolik, a China expert at the Hudson Institute.

AI Chip Reversal Draws Fire

Tensions escalated earlier this month when Nvidia announced it would resume sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China. The decision, which followed a meeting between the company’s CEO and President Trump, reversed export controls imposed in April to restrict the transfer of advanced U.S. technology to Chinese firms.

The move sparked bipartisan backlash in Congress, with lawmakers expressing concern that the administration is compromising national security in pursuit of trade wins.

As the August 12 trade truce deadline approaches, senior U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting in Stockholm to resolve ongoing economic disputes and potentially extend the truce. Failure to reach an agreement could trigger new tariffs and destabilize an already fragile economic relationship.

Despite differing priorities between Congress and the White House, lawmakers on both sides agree that the United States must not lose sight of the broader strategic competition with China.

“Trade is important,” Merkley noted, “but not at the cost of our values or our global leadership.”