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On November 6, 2023, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting a detailed response to whether or not the administration directly invited U.S. sanctioned Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit happening this week in San Francisco.

The administration failed to respond by the deadline of November 13. Senator Rubio and Representative Gallagher released a joint statement in response.

• “Transparency and accountability are the bedrock of diplomatic integrity. The reported invitation to Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, despite U.S. sanctions, demands immediate clarification. We cannot afford diplomatic ambiguity when it comes to defending freedom and human rights. We asked Secretary Blinken to promptly address these concerns by November 13th. We have yet to receive an answer, which is unacceptable. We urge Secretary Blinken to immediately clarify the situation and ensure that the Biden Administration’s foreign policy aligns with the principles of freedom and democracy.”

Want more information?

• July 2023: Rubio, Merkley, Smith, McGovern Joint Statement on State’s Failure to Commit to Not Invite Sanctioned John Lee to U.S.
• June 2023: Rubio, Merkley, Smith, McGovern: “Chief Executive Lee is Not Allowed to Visit the U.S.”