During Xi Jinping Visit, Commission Holds Hearing on Human Rights, Gao Zhisheng

As Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping continued his visit to the US on Tuesday afternoon in Washington DC, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China held a hearing focused on China's ongoing human rights violations and the current imprisonment of Chinese rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

Witnesses, including Gao’s wife, addressed concerns over his well being while serving a three-year sentence, following a nearly 20-month enforced disappearance. Gao’s legal work defended the cases of marginalized religious practitioners, rural workers and human rights activists, and brought attention to the country's ongoing human rights violations.

Revealing a similar testimony was Li Jing, the wife of jailed human rights activist Guo Quan. Her husband is serving a 10-year sentence for speaking out on human rights violations and advocating for democracy within China.

Other witnesses, including Jared Genser, Founder of Freedom Now and Managing Director of Perseus Strategies, and Bob Fu, Founder and President of the ChinaAid Association, revealed detailed violations committed by Chinese Communist Party leaders against anyone speaking out on the situation within China.

Witnesses urged more support from the US, stating support and awareness would "console Chinese citizens when they are fighting in the dark."