US Lawmakers Urge Sanctions on Chinese Officials for Human Rights Abuses and COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Strategic Insights -

US lawmakers, led by Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN), have sent a letter to Secretaries Mike Pompeo and Steven Mnuchin urging the imposition of Magnitsky Sanctions on seven Chinese Communist Party Officials for their alleged gross human rights abuses and their role in exacerbating the COVID-19 pandemic. The move comes after the Global Times, a state-owned Chinese outlet, reported that the Chinese regime plans to impose "severe consequences" on the lawmakers for their efforts to hold the Chinese regime accountable for its coronavirus cover-up.

Key Takeaways:

  • Congressman Jim Banks, a member of the House China Task Force, led the effort to send a letter to Secretaries Pompeo and Mnuchin, urging the imposition of Magnitsky Sanctions on seven Chinese Communist Party Officials.
  • The lawmakers cited the officials' alleged gross human rights abuses and their role in exacerbating the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for the sanctions.
  • Rep. Banks introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives, which has 54 co-sponsors, making clear that the Chinese government is ultimately responsible for the pandemic.
  • Rep. Banks was the first lawmaker to suggest that China should pay reparations for the damage being done to individual lives and the US economy, including canceling the $1 trillion in US debt they hold, imposing additional tariffs on Chinese imports, and bringing a case against China in the International Court of Justice.
  • Secretary Pompeo stated that the Chinese Communist Party understands the risk of imposing sanctions on its own nation, and added that the US has been clear about making sure that everyone understands the facts surrounding the Chinese Communist Party.

Statistics:

  • 7 Chinese Communist Party Officials are being targeted for Magnitsky Sanctions.
  • 54 US lawmakers have co-sponsored Rep. Banks' resolution making the Chinese government responsible for the current pandemic.
  • $1 trillion is the amount of US debt held by China.
  • 3 lawmakers (Rep. Banks, Rep. Crenshaw, and Rep. Gooden) have signed the letter urging sanctions on Chinese officials.

Sources:

  • Press release from the office of Indiana Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)
  • Global Times, May 14, 2020, "Severe consequences to be imposed on US lawmakers"
  • Breitbart Radio interview with Secretary Pompeo