McCarthy Selects Rep. Chris Smith Chair Of Bipartisan Commission on China

On January 17th, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith’s office issued a statement that House Speaker of Kevin McCarthy had nominated Congressman Chris Smith to chair the influential Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). The CECC is an independent commission established by Congress in October 2000 under Title III of H.R. 4444, to monitor the development of the rule of law and human rights development in the People’s Republic of China. An annual report is required to be submitted to the President and the U.S. Congress. Smith, a Republican congressman from New Jersey, has served four terms as chairman of the committee. Under his leadership, he said, the committee would “aggressively counter the transnational repression of Xi Jinping’s brutal dictatorship and ramp up scrutiny of those who are aiding and abetting the Communist regime.” Smith says he has chaired 76 congressional hearings on human rights abuses by the CCP and that the CECC has been instrumental in advancing critical legislation—including two laws he co-authored, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act—”to hold the CCP to account for its heinous atrocities.” In addition, Smith has long opposed granting preferential trade treatment to Beijing. He said that since President Clinton delinked human rights and trade with the CCP nearly three decades ago, most U.S. politicians and corporations have enabled the CCP through unfettered engagement and trade without serious human rights protections.