WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) this week in unveiling new legislation aimed at holding Hong Kong judicial officials accountable for human rights violations tied to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) increasing influence over the city’s legal system.
The proposed Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act would require the U.S. President to assess whether specific judges or judicial officers in Hong Kong have committed human rights violations. If so, sanctions could be imposed under existing U.S. laws, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, or the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.
“The CCP has completely corrupted the local judiciary [in Hong Kong], turning it into a tool of intimidation and injustice,” said Sullivan, who will soon chair the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. “Even American citizens have found themselves targets of this regime’s tactics, and we must respond.”
In tandem with the sanctions bill, the senators also introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the Chinese government’s transnational repression—specifically its efforts to coerce, intimidate, and surveil people outside China’s borders, including inside the United States.
Senator Merkley emphasized the bipartisan unity behind the move. “Republicans and Democrats are united in sending a clear message that we will not tolerate this brutal oppression,” he said.
Curtis added that the legislation reinforces the United States’ commitment to democratic values. “This bill ensures consequences for those who seek to undermine human rights and freedom,” he said.
The legislation and resolution come amid growing concern over China’s influence in Hong Kong’s legal and political systems, especially following the imposition of a national security law in 2020 that has led to widespread arrests of pro-democracy activists and erosion of civil liberties.
The full text of both the bill and the resolution is available on the U.S. Senate’s website.
