Jeff Merkley Denounces China's Campaign Of 'Transnational Repression'

2 months ago

Prior to the Congressional recess, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) questioned Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell about China's efforts of "transnational repression," and US-China global influence competition.

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00:00Senator Young.

00:01Senator Merkley.

00:02Thank you, Madam Chairman.

00:05Thank you so much for your work, Secretary Campbell.

00:09Two pieces I wanted to address.

00:11First is Chinese strategy of transnational repression.

00:16They have greatly expanded their effort to suppress dissent abroad, particularly among

00:21the Chinese diaspora.

00:23They have a host of tools.

00:24They persuade governments to detain individuals who have been critical of China, to deport

00:29individuals back to China.

00:31They spy on those dissidents, they threaten them, they blackmail them by saying that their

00:36family members will be affected back in China, and they will execute on that threat as well.

00:44What is the State Department doing to help nations resist the pressure to detain or deport

00:53dissidents, and very importantly, to protect freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

00:58here in the United States when China is threatening Chinese diaspora?

01:05Senator Merkley, extremely well-worded and concise and exact challenge that we're facing.

01:14I would say the most important first step that we've sought to do is actually help

01:20countries understand the nature of the problem that they're facing.

01:24You would be surprised at how many countries, until they examine the circumstances inside

01:30their own borders, were unaware of some of these challenges.

01:34Frankly, even the United States, it's taken time to fully understand what is taking place

01:40among diaspora communities, Chinese language speaking.

01:44I think we've worked with a number of countries to help understand the nature of this transnational

01:50challenge.

01:51We've helped countries strengthen a variety of law enforcement and other steps to assist

02:01them in contesting these actions.

02:05We have been very principled and direct in our diplomacy with China.

02:13I would simply say that this is a challenge that is not just a few countries.

02:19We've seen it in Canada.

02:20We've seen it in Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, other parts of Europe.

02:26Frankly, the ability to compare notes and to compare strategies about how to identify

02:34and contest it has been very important.

02:36Yeah, thank you.

02:38Freedom House has now documented Chinese transnational repression in 36 countries, so it really is

02:45spreading in an effort to shape how they are viewed around the world.

02:48Another area where China is expanding its influence is within the United Nations.

02:54They have proceeded to increase their contributions.

02:59They have increased their support for peace teams from the United Nations, peacekeepers.

03:08They have gotten more Chinese nationals into leadership positions, and they are trying

03:17to change the dialogue around human rights.

03:24In terms of the Universal Periodic Review this last January, they submitted false information

03:29about many of the actions of China in the domain of human rights.

03:34They blocked independent civil society representatives from providing information.

03:40They have suppressed the mention of political, civil, religious rights in UN resolutions

03:45and debates, and they are trying to convey the philosophy that human rights are country-specific,

03:52that is that there is no universal human right, and basically whatever country decides, well,

03:59that's what human rights are.

04:01We have been really a voice in the world to identify, promote the vision of fundamental

04:08human rights, but this is a contest for ideas, and Chinese influence in the UN is part of

04:15that.

04:16What's our strategy?

04:17Look, you've identified it exactly, and the truth is this is part of a coherent strategy

04:25of China redefining what democracy means, what human rights means, and they've done

04:31that substantially in international organizations, particularly in places like the United Nations.

04:38Their ultimate goal, I think, Senator, is to step up their game substantially in the

04:45global south.

04:46That's where they're playing for advantage.

04:48I would simply say that would be the arena.

04:52If you ask me where do we need to do much more, I'm actually quite proud and satisfied.

04:57The work will never be done, but what we've done in Europe and dominant partners in the

05:03Indo-Pacific, I think the partnership with India is robust, it's critical, it's I think

05:10probably our most or one of our most important partnerships for the 21st century.

05:17Where we really need to step up our game is the global south, and that means on the

05:22field in these various countries with robust programming, USAID, DFC, our diplomats, but

05:30it also means, Senator, really understanding the nature of the challenge in organizations

05:35like the United Nations, in which the action increasingly is not just at the Security Council,

05:43but the General Assembly, and that's where China's manifesting a strategy exactly as

05:48he laid down.

05:49And we just, we need to understand how important that arena is for us going forward.

05:55Thank you very much, Mr. President.

05:56Thank you, Senator Merkley.

Jeff Merkley Denounces China's Campaign Of 'Transnational Repression'

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