WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s trip to Asia:

“President Trump is in the midst of a trip to Asia with several important goals, including addressing the threat of North Korea’s nuclear program and promoting U.S. exports throughout the region.  We have been pleased to see the President reaffirm our economic and security partnerships with our allies in Japan and South Korea.  In the coming days, the President will also visit China, Vietnam, and the Philippines – three countries that fail to respect the human rights of all their citizens.  In China, activists are detained and the political opposition is silenced.  In Vietnam, basic rights such as freedom of the press and freedom of religion are restricted.  In the Philippines, a “war on drugs” has resulted in over 7,000 deaths, many via unlawful executions and extrajudicial killings.  As co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, we urge President Trump to raise these human rights concerns and to promote the United States’ commitment to human rights and democratic values during his meetings with President Xi Jinping in China, President Tran Dai Quang of Vietnam, and President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. The United States must continue to stand up for the oppressed around the world.” 

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