China’s record on human rights and the rule of law has declined, according to the 2025 annual report from the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), released December 10. The commission, established in 2000, monitors these issues and this year’s report focuses on what it calls a pattern of broken promises by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“Broken promises are not an exception; they are a feature of how the CCP deals with the world and with its own people,” wrote CECC co-chairs Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) in a statement included in the report.
“These broken promises affect Americans,” they stated. Examples cited include exit bans and arbitrary detention for Americans traveling to China, forced labor entering U.S. supply chains, national security laws that provide access to American data, and transnational repression through overseas police stations.
The annual report offers numerous recommendations for countering harmful CCP practices impacting both the United States and other countries. Several related bills have been introduced by lawmakers this year.
The commission chairs urged the United States and its allies to reject efforts by Beijing to incentivize or divide them: “Americans pay the price—in security, in prosperity, and in credibility.”
“Upholding human dignity helps keep markets fairer, travel safer, technology freer, and alliances stronger. It reduces the leverage authoritarian states—led by a totalitarian [People’s Republic of China]—wield over people and partners,” their statement continued.
The CECC also maintains a Political Prisoner Database which contained 11,262 records as of June 30. Of these cases, 2,755 were active detentions; others involved individuals who had been released or had died in custody or escaped. The database includes journalists like Zhang Zhan who reported on COVID-19 in China; public critics such as Peng Lifa; artists like Gao Zhen; Uyghur filmmaker Ikram Nurmehmet; religious believers including Xin Ruoyu; and Zhao Ying, an elderly woman sentenced for distributing Falun Gong materials.
Reports from organizations such as Reporters Without Borders continue to rank China among the world’s worst offenders for press freedom—placing it near last globally—and Freedom House gave it zero out of four points for independent media in its latest assessment.
According to a cited study from China Dissent Monitor, dissent events increased by 27 percent between July–September 2023 and July–September 2024. In response to rising dissent, authorities expanded departments aimed at controlling society and suppressing “illegal social organizations.” The report describes campaigns led by party organs such as the United Front Work Department targeting religion—including suppression of Muslim minorities and mass arrests of Protestant leaders—as well as ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
The criminal justice system is described as being used as a political tool under CCP rule. Dissidents can be held without legal process in psychiatric facilities known as “black jails” where torture is reported.
Digital censorship activities have also increased according to OpenAI findings referenced by the commission: accounts apparently based in China used AI tools to criticize U.S. policies online while promoting regime views. Chinese regulations now require AI models embed official socialist values into their programming.
Beijing’s influence abroad includes expanding satellite infrastructure which raises concerns about exporting digital authoritarianism globally. The regime has pursued critics internationally through means including bounties on Hong Kong activists, passport cancellations, hacking attempts against dissidents abroad, harassment campaigns and diplomatic pressure for extradition.
Several legislative proposals addressing transnational repression have already been introduced in Congress. The CECC recommends producing threat assessments regarding CCP repression abroad and forming an interagency hub focused on malign influence operations targeting civil society institutions.
Despite having signed multiple international agreements since 1979—such as conventions against racial discrimination (1981), torture (1988), forced labor (2022), economic rights protections (2001), consular relations (1979), autonomy guarantees for Hong Kong (1984), maritime law treaties (1996)—the commission says Beijing routinely violates these commitments domestically and internationally.
Examples highlighted include: violence against protestors during San Francisco’s APEC summit allegedly instigated by Chinese officials; forced assimilation policies toward Tibetan, Uyghur and Mongolian children via boarding schools; crackdown on protests in Hong Kong after passage of new national security laws; reports of ongoing torture against prisoners including Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners with allegations of organ harvesting; use of forced labor involving ethnic minorities such as Uyghurs—and North Korean workers aboard Chinese vessels—with resulting goods reaching U.S. markets via supply chains linked to major brands like Starbucks or Nestle.
In response to evidence that most cotton produced in Xinjiang involves forced labor practices deemed genocidal by U.S authorities—and that seafood caught using forced labor enters American markets—the commission recommends blacklisting companies complicit with these abuses while increasing transparency requirements for supply chains connected with fashion retailers or seafood imports.
Chris Smith is currently serving New Jersey’s 4th congressional district—a seat he has held since replacing Frank Thompson in 1981—and continues his involvement with human rights oversight through his role at CECC.
This article was published on December 10, 2025 online at https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/ccps-history-of-broken-promises-human-rights-abuses-harms-us-world-congressional-commission-5955780
