Days before a state visit by Xi Jinping, a team of U.S. Senators led by Cory Gardner (R-CO) urged President Obama on Tuesday to take a hard stance with the Chinese president by condemning numerous recent actions by the country.
A letter sent by Gardner, and Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA), spells out in detail many concerning facts regarding China’s recent expansion efforts in the East and South China Seas, the country’s criminal behavior in cyberspace, and troubling domestic policies that still contain devastating human rights abuses against the Chinese people.
Essentially, the Senators made it clear that while they agreed that the U.S. should seek a “mature, productive, and peaceful” relationship with China, Obama must deliver a strong message to Xi to inform the Chinese leader that “China must play by international rules or face the consequences.”
Obama greeted Xi on the South Lawn of the White House this morning, following his arrival in the Washington DC on Thursday. Talks between the two leaders are expected to be contentious as they hash out numerous differences.