China hawks join forces in US Congress to pressure Trump ahead of Xi’s visit

Trump administration criticised for focusing on achieving economic gains from Beijing while neglecting political and human rights issues

US lawmakers critical of China had a busy week on Capitol Hill, stepping up their activity ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to President Donald Trump in Washington next week.

China-focused members of Congress and commissions held multiple hearings on issues ranging from human rights to trade and supply chains – an apparent effort to put a range of issues on Trump’s agenda for his talks with Xi.

A former senior US official said congressional Republicans had given Trump “a huge leash” to negotiate with Beijing during his first 20 months in office, but that there had now been “a shortening of the leash” as lawmakers pressed ahead with China-related initiatives.

The House Select Committee on China, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have all held China-related hearings this week.