U.S. Senators Introduce Tough New Legislation Targeting China’s Human Rights Record and Taiwan Aggression

U.S. senators are introducing bipartisan legislation to sanction China over human rights abuses, Taiwan aggression, and transnational repression, amid concerns that President Trump’s trade-focused approach is sidelining security and democratic values.

U.S. senators from both major political parties are set to introduce three new bills this week aimed at addressing China’s worsening human rights abuses, increasing pressure on Taiwan, and its transnational repression of dissidents — even as President Donald Trump continues to prioritise trade negotiations with Beijing.

The legislative package underscores growing concerns within Congress that the White House's focus on economic diplomacy is coming at the expense of broader national security and human rights priorities. Although Trump’s push to rebalance the U.S.-China trade relationship has received strong support from many Republicans, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are warning that it must not come at the cost of America’s core democratic values.

Among the proposed measures is a bill co-sponsored by Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, which would deny entry into the United States to current or former Chinese officials involved in the forced repatriation of Uyghurs — a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority. Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused China of mass detentions, forced labour, and other abuses in its northwestern Xinjiang region, though Beijing denies these allegations.

A second bill, introduced with support from Republican John Curtis of Utah, seeks to strengthen U.S. ties with Taiwan, particularly by supporting Latin American and Caribbean nations that maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei. The bill comes as China intensifies its efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally while stepping up military and political pressure against the island, which Beijing views as a breakaway province.

The third piece of legislation, championed by Republican Dan Sullivan of Alaska, targets what it describes as “transnational repression” — the extraterritorial intimidation and harassment of dissidents, activists, and journalists by authoritarian governments. The bill would enhance protections for those targeted by foreign regimes, such as China, on U.S. soil or abroad.

Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon and lead sponsor of all three bills, said the United States must remain steadfast in defending human rights globally, regardless of who occupies the White House. “The United States cannot afford to be weak in the face of the People’s Republic of China and its aggression around the world,” Merkley said in a statement. “No matter who is in the White House, America’s values of freedom and human rights must remain at the heart of a clear and principled vision that guides our leadership on the global stage.”

White House officials insist that President Trump remains committed to Asia-Pacific security matters and views his personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a crucial channel for advancing both economic and security interests. Nevertheless, analysts say tensions are emerging between Trump’s trade-centric strategy and a more hawkish approach to China favoured by many in Congress and even some within his own administration.

Bonnie Glaser, an expert on Asia policy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said: “It does appear that President Trump is keen to negotiate some kind of deal with China, and gaps are opening between his approach and the approaches of some members of his team, as well as with Congress, which overall has been quite hawkish on China.”

The timing of the legislative push is also significant. U.S. and Chinese economic officials are due to meet in Stockholm this week in a last-ditch effort to extend a trade truce before Trump’s 12 August deadline. Failure to reach a deal could trigger the imposition of steep new tariffs.

The announcement earlier this month that tech giant Nvidia would resume sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China — after a temporary export restriction — has further fuelled concerns in Washington. Lawmakers fear that short-term economic interests may be overriding long-term national security goals, particularly in sectors like artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

Michael Sobolik, a policy analyst at the Hudson Institute, said: “Trump cares about opening foreign markets to American trade, and that’s what he’s always cared about. And that is going to run counter to a lot of national security imperatives.”

As U.S.-China relations continue to evolve, the new bills signal that Capitol Hill is prepared to play a more assertive role in shaping America’s stance toward Beijing — ensuring that security, democracy, and human rights remain central to the country’s foreign policy agenda.