In an open letter, the two senators noted that they paid special attention to Article 63 of the "National Unity Law."
US Senators Lindsey O. Graham and Sheldon Whitehouse sent an open letter to China's Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, expressing their urgent concerns, objections, and warnings about China's "National Unity Promotion Act" that will take effect on July 1.
In the open letter, the two senators noted that they were particularly concerned about Article 63 of the National Unity Act, which provides for legal liability for organizations and individuals outside of China for “undermining national unity.” The two senators explained the US position, stressing that China’s attempts to monitor, intimidate, or coerce individuals within the US under this article are an unacceptable infringement on US sovereignty.
The letter strongly criticized China's restrictions on the religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians. It pointed out that this new law aims to destroy the unique identity of ethnic groups such as Uyghurs and Tibetans, violates China's own constitution, the "National Territorial Autonomy Law," and its international commitments, and expressed its strong condemnation of the law, standing with the European Parliament.
The US Congress is currently actively working to legislate a reporting mechanism to monitor China's actions under this law. The US has made it clear that if the Chinese government targets people on US soil or US citizens abroad, the US will hold them accountable through stronger legislative measures.
