Sen. Cruz: ‘We Must Stand With Those Who Continue to Fight for Liberty in China’
Introduces legislation marking the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced legislation recognizing the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, urging President Trump to pressure China's President Xi Jinping to release artist and activist Liu Xia, and hold Chinese officials responsible for taking political prisoners. Sen. Cruz has been a long-time advocate in calling for the release of Liu Xia, as a result of her unjust imprisonment by the Chinese government.
"Twenty-nine years ago, today, students and professors in China peacefully gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, calling on the Communist regime to end its oppressive rule over the Chinese people," Sen. Cruz said. "In response, the regime sent tanks and soldiers to mow them down.
"Today, Liu Xia and thousands of political prisoners continue to suffer under Communist tyranny. We must stand with the brave men and women who continue to fight for liberty in China, both to honor the legacy of those who died in the fight and to elevate the cause of those who continue the battle today. I am proud to introduce this bill, which would require the U.S. government to name the names of those in the Chinese Communist Party who are wrongfully imprisoning men and women like Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia, and to sanction them for their human rights abuses. Such measures must be the beginning of an unceasing push to hold oppressors accountable."
Liu Xia is the widow of Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who continued the legacy of the brave demonstrators at Tiananmen and was punished for it by prolonged imprisonment and forced labor. After Liu Xiaobo's death in 2017, Sen. Cruz introduced a bipartisan bill with Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to grant lawful permanent resident status to Liu Xia. Sen. Cruz also led the fight to free Liu Xiaobo before his death, introducing a bill to rename the street in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington "Liu Xiaobo Plaza." In July 2017, Sen. Cruz, along with Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), introduced a companion resolution with Rep. Mark Meadows honoring the life and work of Liu Xiaobo, which he also addressed in a speech on the Senate floor. He also delivered several speeches in September, October, and November of 2015 to call attention to Dr. Liu's plight and human rights abuses in communist China.
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