Senators Budd and Kaine Urge President Trump to Prioritize Religious Freedom in U.S.-China Summit
U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) have led a bipartisan letter to President Trump, encouraging his administration to address the persecution of religious groups in China during an upcoming U.S.-China summit in Washington, D.C. The letter specifically highlights the plight of pastors and religious minorities who are unjustly detained for their faith, including Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Uyghur Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners. The senators are urging President Trump to raise specific cases, such as Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Pastor Tang Bingyi of Light of Zion Church, and eight members of Zion Church, building on the successful release of Pastor Ezra Jin earlier in the year following discussions between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. The letter emphasizes the importance of promoting international religious freedom and calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners detained for their religious beliefs.