President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday focused on national security, the economy, and immigration and border issues. He did not directly mention China.
Claire Lai, daughter of Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, attended the State of the Union as a guest of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison in a landmark national security case that has fueled global concerns about the Chinese communist regime’s repression of freedoms in the former British colony.
“We need to send a message to the Chinese Communist Party, the Marxists, and all those who believe in this communist idea that you can shut down, censor, and silence opposing viewpoints: that’s not consistent with basic human rights. And America has always been a bulwark to stand for those liberties,” Johnson said on Tuesday ahead of the State of the Union. “And I think having his daughter here tonight—I hope it’ll be a poignant symbol to everybody around the world that America is the great superpower because we stand for basic human rights.”