U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraging the United States to work with the United Kingdom and Australia to welcome Hong Kongers seeking refuge outside of Beijing’s authoritarian rule after recent actions effectively ended Hong Kong’s autonomy from China.
“We stand in solidarity with Hong Kongers as they fight to defend their basic democratic rights and remain free from the oppression that Beijing seeks to impose. While evaluating next steps for a broader response to the evolving situation in Hong Kong, we must recognize the immediate concern that some Hong Kongers are no longer safe living there and are seeking refuge outside of the region. As China becomes increasingly assertive, we must provide an alternative for those who desire to live in a land that shares their democratic values, protects human rights, and upholds the rule of law,” the Senators wrote.
“We commend the recent actions by the United Kingdom and statements by Australia to welcome Hong Kongers who are seeking to live outside of Beijing’s authoritarian rule. We strongly encourage the United States to follow suit and work arm in arm with our allies to find a solution to this challenge,” they added.
The full text of the letter is available at this link.