Activists Call on United States President Joe Biden to Raise Human Rights Issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Elle van der Cam

Tibet and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

On the 13rd of November 2021, activists held a vigil outside the White House, to call on President Biden to raise human rights issues during his call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The activists stayed for two days, holding a constant vigil until the virtual call occurred on the 15th of November 2021. Those involved included Tenzin Kunchok, Students For a Free Tibet (SFT) Minnesota, Chris Choi, Director of Hong Kong Social Action Movements in Boston, Tsela Zoksang, SFT New York/New Jersey and Tsokey Tsabtsartsang, SFT Rutgers. They made six demands to President Biden demanding to place pressure on the Chinese President on human rights abuses across Tibet, Hong Kong and Uyghur. Tenzin Kunchok expressed that his activism rooted from wanting to see the United States show the world that they care more about human rights and human lives than diplomacy. Meanwhile Tsela Zoksang claims that in just one day, Biden and his administration have the opportunity to prove they value democratic freedoms and basic human rights. 

Sources and further reading:

Activists call on President Biden to raise Human Rights Issues with Chinese President Xi, The Tibet Post, 15 November 2021, https://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/43-international/7149-activists-call-on-president-biden-to-raise-human-rights-issues-with-chinese-president-xi