As Trump received Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit in Washington, a bipartisan group of senators is calling on the President to press China’s strongman to make the release of prisoners of conscience a priority.
On Sept. 22, Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) sent a letter to Trump, pleading him to build on his success in securing the release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the leader of a prominent underground church in China, following his previous meeting with Xi in China in May, according to a story by the Epoch Times.
“The United States should continue to promote international religious freedom,” the lawmakers said.
“We request that you continue keeping those persecuted for their faith in China, including ethnic and religious minority groups such as Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Uyghur Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners, top of mind in conversations with President Xi.”
Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington on Sept. 23. The two leaders are set to hold a summit on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25.
The head of Zion Church, Jin in early July reunited with his family in the United States. He had been detained at his home in October 2025 as part of a broader operation by Chinese authorities targeting the church.
On Sept. 22, Jin recounted his detention and release during a hearing hosted by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).
Jin, in his written testimony, said he and other fellow church leaders were barred from having “normal correspondence” with their families, while the lawyers representing them faced various forms of persecution, including intimidation, revoked licenses, and pressure on their law firms to shut down or suspend operations.
“Even as I enjoy such freedom and joy with my family, I still cannot stop thinking of and worrying about my eight co-workers who remain imprisoned,” Jin said.
The eight Zion Church pastors and co-workers are among those the lawmakers urged Trump to ask Xi to release.
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