Washington D.C. – CECC, May 11, 2026
S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), the Chair and Co-chair respectively, of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) released a letter today calling on the President to personally raise the cases of Americans, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and their family members, who have been unjustly detained in the People’s Republic of China, during his next meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping.
The Chairs were joined on the letter by CECC Ranking Members Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative James McGovern (D-MA).
The CECC Commissioners commended the President’s willingness to raise the case of Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, and his commitment to securing the release of Americans unjustly detained in China, including Nelson Wells, Jr. and Dawn Michelle Hunt.
The letter also highlighted the growing threat to American interests arising from the Chinese Communist Party’s use of hostage diplomacy, coercive exit bans, and transnational repression against U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their family members.
