Lives, not Leverage: the Long Arm of China and North Korea's Repression

The House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans held a hearing on September 17, 2026, titled "Lives, not Leverage: the Long Arm of China and North Korea's Repression." The hearing focused on human rights abuses by China and North Korea, including wrongful detentions of Americans in China and the repression of North Korean refugees. Witnesses included victims and experts who discussed the need to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act, the impact of Chinese and North Korean forced labor linked to international supply chains, and the role of U.S. programs like Radio Free Asia in disseminating information to oppressed populations. While the hearing primarily addressed human rights and geopolitical concerns, it also touched on policy recommendations such as designating China as a state sponsor of wrongful detention and enhancing sanctions on entities involved in repression and forced labor. No direct procurement or contracting decisions were discussed during the meeting.