Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is spearheading a bipartisan congressional delegation to China next week.
Amid escalating tensions and previous visits by President Joe Biden’s Cabinet members over the summer, Schumer and Republican Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho plan to meet with government and business leaders in China, South Korea, and Japan. Their mission is to advance U.S. economic and national security interests in the region.
Schumer, a vocal critic of China, intends to address topics such as human rights, concerns about Chinese-made fentanyl in the United States, China’s role in the international community, and potential areas of cooperation. Despite ongoing displeasure with China’s support of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its aggressive behavior towards Taiwan and the South China Sea, a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected in mid-November during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco.
Various members of Biden’s Cabinet, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and climate envoy John Kerry, have already engaged in talks with Chinese officials.
The delegation joining Schumer and Crapo consists of Senators Maggie Hassan and Jon Ossoff from the Democratic party, as well as Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy from the Republican party.
(Source: Mary Clare Jalonick | Associated Press)
