When President Trump made his visit to China in 2017, he handed Xi Jinping a list of individuals he wanted released. My parents were included in that list.
This moment was significant. At the start of China’s detention campaign in Xinjiang, my parents found themselves in a precarious situation since I was voicing concerns in the U.S. about human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party. By having their names presented to Xi, it was a way to show they weren’t forgotten.
However, just having a name on a list doesn’t change things if there isn’t ongoing pressure. My mother was trapped in Beijing for nearly two decades. They exploited my advocacy efforts, holding me hostage to the expectation that I’d eventually back down. Despite Cabinet officials and diplomats addressing her case, Beijing remained unmoved. It wasn’t until President Biden directly brought up her situation with President Xi that she returned home.
My father’s situation deteriorated. He passed away in April 2022 at 83, after years of enforced isolation. I wasn’t able to attend his funeral, as the Chinese government had sanctioned me for my advocacy work. He never met his American grandchildren. That’s the cost of inaction, not in dramatic moments, but quietly, over time.
As President Trump prepares for a meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14th and 15th, he needs to bring another list.
This issue isn’t separate from trade, tariffs, and sanctions. Many Americans, lawful residents, and U.S.-affiliated relatives are detained or restricted from leaving by the Chinese Communist Party to enforce silence, extract concessions, and stifle opposition in the U.S. This is a form of hostage-taking and reflects state coercion against the U.S., posing a direct challenge to American sovereignty. When a foreign government targets Americans on U.S. soil, it transcends human rights—it tests our resolve.
Such matters can’t be resolved through standard diplomatic means. In China’s system, issues escalate to one person: Xi Jinping. Prosecutors, the police, and local authorities all await directives from above. Lawyers working on cases involving foreign interests have told me that only President Xi can authorize the release of hostages. Ambassadors may highlight cases, cabinet members can exert pressure, but only the president holds the key.
President Trump has prioritized the repatriation of unjustly detained Americans in his foreign policy. His message to Xi needs to be unequivocal: American families are not bargaining chips. The U.S. doesn’t treat hostages or exit bans as standard practice. His demands should include the release of individuals, relocation for humanitarian reasons, and removal of exit bans, plus regular access to U.S. officials and family members.
Additionally, he should instruct his team to keep a permanent, confidential list of Americans and their families detained in China, integrating this into future discussions with Chinese officials. It would be wise for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to oversee this effort.
Rubio understands China’s realities exceptionally well. As a senator, he was instrumental in establishing the legal frameworks that influence current policies, including the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, enacted by President Trump in 2020, and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed by President Biden in 2021. Leaders from both parties contributed to this framework, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi playing a key role in its passage. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recognized that the Chinese government is committing genocide against the Uyghurs, a determination confirmed by Secretary Antony Blinken. Beijing grasped the implications before Washington fully comprehended, and in retaliation, they sanctioned Rubio and me. Foreign governments don’t target ineffectual critics; he faced consequences for being effective.
Though there was some concern about Rubio’s early months at the State Department, including an unexpected silence and a softer approach, I believe those who created this framework haven’t abandoned it. He now holds more institutional power and faces an adversary he’s long analyzed.
Rubio’s stance against the Chinese Communist Party mirrors mine—it’s deeply rooted in personal histories rather than mere policy. His family escaped Cuba. My mother gave birth to me in a re-education camp. We may have entered this struggle from different angles, but we reached the same conclusion: authoritarian regimes exploit families as tools of manipulation. The solution isn’t to accommodate; it’s to apply pressure.
Trump’s list for Beijing should also include Gulshan Abbas, imprisoned in retaliation for his sister’s advocacy in the U.S.; Gao Shen, an artist detained under obscure legal situations; Pastor Ezra Zinn, who faces unclear charges; and relatives of Uyghur-American journalists who have been detained to exert leverage over American media professionals. For these families, the initial step towards freedom often starts with having their names spoken in the right context.
And under Xi Jinping, there’s really only one context that matters.
My mother’s path to America began with that list in 2017. She spent years waiting for her name to reach the crucial ears. Sadly, my father passed away before that freedom was attained.
Other families are waiting tonight too.
