Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump to raise the cases of several political prisoners held in China during his meetings with President Xi Jinping in the United States this week. The Illinois senator made the appeal in a floor speech, framing the Trump-Xi summit as a timely opportunity to place human rights alongside security and economic issues on the bilateral agenda.

The Prisoners Named

Durbin specifically named five individuals he urged Trump to seek the release of: Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas, Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai, Christian leaders Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, and Uyghur entrepreneur Ekpar Asat. He alleged Abbas was reportedly imprisoned in retaliation for her family's public criticism of Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs, while Gao and Pang were detained for serving as church leaders.

Durbin also called for the release of the remaining congregants of Pastor Ezra Jin, who was freed after 266 days in a Chinese prison — a release the senator credited to Trump's intervention. Jin had been imprisoned for operating a church, according to Durbin. 'The pastor reminded me that at least eight of his congregants remain imprisoned,' Durbin said, after meeting Jin and his daughter Grace at the Capitol following his release.

What Durbin Said on the Floor

Durbin described the Trump-Xi summit as consequential and warranting a broad agenda. 'The meeting between the leaders of our two countries is important and timely. Both nations have a great deal to discuss, including areas of shared concern and disagreement,' he said. He cited artificial intelligence risks, North Korea's nuclear programme, climate change, energy supplies, and global economic stability as shared concerns.

On points of divergence, Durbin listed Taiwan's future, Chinese harassment of US allies, the war in Ukraine, economic espionage, fentanyl precursor exports, and political freedoms in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. He characterised these as issues where Washington and Beijing remain fundamentally divided.

Bipartisan Senate Resolution

The speech came months after the US Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution in May, sponsored by Durbin, calling for the release of political prisoners in China, including Pastor Jin. The resolution's passage underscores rare cross-party consensus on the issue of Chinese human rights, even as the two parties remain divided on broader China policy.

Durbin welcomed Jin's release as a proof of concept: 'President Trump has a chance to secure the release of these detainees who have already suffered so much, and I hope he will similarly make this request of Xi during his visit,' he said.

Broader US-China Human Rights Tensions

Human rights have been a persistent fault line in Washington-Beijing relations. US officials and lawmakers have repeatedly criticised China over suppression of political dissent, restrictions on religious practice, and curtailment of civil liberties in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Critics argue Beijing has deflected these concerns by treating them as interference in internal affairs.

Neither the White House nor the Chinese government had responded to Durbin's remarks at the time of reporting. As Trump and Xi prepare to meet, how — or whether — human rights feature on the formal agenda remains to be seen.