East Michigan News

Today in San Francisco, President Joe Biden met with Xi Jinping, who is the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the President of China. Currently, three Americans have been determined by the Biden Administration as wrongfully imprisoned by the CCP. Additionally, hundreds more are currently unable to leave China due to arbitrary exit bans placed on American citizens by the CCP. In July, the State Department advised Americans to reconsider travel to China because of these bans.

Following today's meeting, the two countries announced the CCP would work to limit the shipment of fentanyl precursors to North America. Congressman John Moolenaar, a member of the House Select Committee on the CCP, expressed his views on this announcement, saying, "The Chinese Communist Party has been an accomplice to thousands of deaths in Michigan by manufacturing and shipping chemicals to Mexico to produce fentanyl. Today’s announcement is an admission by the CCP that it could have stopped this from happening a long time ago and chose to do nothing while Americans died. While President Biden was able to reach this agreement, he must demand more of the CCP including the release of all Americans being detained in China."

It is worth noting that on November 9, Congressman Moolenaar and the other Republican members of the House Select Committee on the CCP advised President Biden to make ten demands of Xi during their meeting. Stopping the shipment of fentanyl chemicals from China and the release of American captives were among the demands. The lawmakers’ letter and the complete list of demands can be found on the committee's website.

The meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping has generated considerable attention, given the ongoing tensions between the United States and China. The Biden Administration has been vocal about its concerns regarding human rights violations and unfair trade practices by the CCP. The wrongful imprisonment of American citizens and the imposition of arbitrary exit bans further strain the relationship between the two countries.

As the discussions continue, it is clear that there is a need for the United States to push for more significant actions from the CCP. The announcement regarding the limitation of fentanyl precursor shipments is a step in the right direction, but Congressman Moolenaar rightly emphasizes the importance of also securing the release of all Americans being detained in China. The meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping serves as an opportunity to address these critical issues and to seek a resolution that upholds the principles of justice and human rights.

The outcome of this meeting will undoubtedly shape the future direction of the relationship between the United States and China. While progress has been made in some areas, there is still much work to be done. The voices of lawmakers like Congressman Moolenaar play a crucial role in holding the CCP accountable and ensuring that American interests and values are protected. As the discussions and negotiations continue, it is essential to prioritize the well-being and safety of American citizens and to work towards a more constructive and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-biden-xi-meeting