The commission was created in October 2000 under Title III of H.R. 4444,[5] which authorizes normal trade relations with China, and establishes a framework for relations between the two countries.[1]
The CECC publishes an annual report on human rights and rule of law developments in China, usually in the fall of each year, and covers issues such as freedom of expression, worker rights, religious freedom, ethnic minority rights, population planning, the status of women, climate change and the environment, treatment of North Korean refugees, civil society, access to justice, and democratic governance.[6] The reports draw on a variety of sources, including information from human rights groups, media reports, government, and Chinese Communist Party documents.
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As part of its mandate from Congress, the CECC maintains a partial database of religious and political prisoners believed to be detained in China. As of June 30, 2022, the database contained 10,645 names, of which 2,506 were believed to be detained at that time, while the remainder were released, deceased, or escaped.[7] The database was created with the assistance of the Dui Hua Foundation and Tibet Information Network.[8]
The commission consists of a staff of researchers and analysts and is overseen by as many as nine members each from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as senior executive branch officials. The chairmanship of the commission rotates between the majority parties from the House and Senate. The commission is currently chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).[2]
On December 23, 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Todd Stein, CECC deputy staff director, would be one of two individuals sanctioned by China with effect from the same day. The order specified that this was in retaliation to the United States having sanctioned two Chinese officials earlier that month over human rights issues in Tibet.[9] In an emailed comment to The Associated Press, Stein said the sanction order against him did not matter in light of the "thousands of prisoners of conscience jailed by Chinese authorities."[10]
