USCIRF Calls for President Donald J. Trump to Raise FoRB Prisoners with President Xi

USCIRF Calls for President Donald J. Trump to Raise FoRB Prisoners with President Xi

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) encourages President Donald J. Trump to continue his efforts for the release of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners-as well as for the cessation of religious persecution by the Chinese government-during the planned summit with President Xi Jinping on September 24, 2026.

"President Trump boldly demonstrated to President Xi during their meeting in Beijing earlier this year that the United States stands for religious freedom by calling for the release of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners," said Chair Asif Mahmood. "Speaking up again sends a clear and consistent signal that religious freedom for all is a priority for the United States and that it expects the CCP to respect its population rather than persecute millions for practicing their faith."

Following a direct appeal by President Trump to his Chinese counterpart during the U.S.-China Summit in Beijing in May, Chinese authorities freed Pastor Ezra Jin of the Zion Church in July and permitted him to relocate to the United States and reunite with his family. However, eight Zion Church leaders, who CCP authorities arrested alongside Pastor Ezra Jin, remain detained. These pastors include Wang Lin, Yin Huibin, Wang Cong, Lin Shucheng, Liu Zhenbin, Gao Yingjia, Elder Wang Zhong, and Wu Qiuyu. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a crackdown on Christian house churches in 2025, during which police arrested Pastor Jin along with dozens of others.

"In releasing Pastor Jin, President Xi showed that he has the power to release FoRB prisoners if he so desires-and indeed he has an obligation to do so under international law," said Vice Chair CeCe Heil. "USCIRF again asks President Trump to seize the opportunity during his upcoming summit with President Xi to call for the release of Gulshan Abbas, Ekpar Asat, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, the Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family. USCIRF also asks President Trump to urge the Chinese government to provide a passport to U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident, Pastor John Cao and allow him to reunite with his family and seek urgent medical treatment in the United States."

USCIRF recommended in its 2026 Annual Report that the U.S. Department of State redesignate China as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. USCIRF raised China's abysmal religious freedom conditions during its "FoRB Violations Against Christians Abroad" hearing in January and in its "China's Codification and Escalation of the 'Sinicization of Religion'" publication in May.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].