WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) this past week visited China and South Korea to advance issues critical to U.S. national and economic security, and to push for further action to combat fentanyl trafficking. Senator Hassan visited the countries as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), and Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). While in China, Senator Hassan also joined a bipartisan delegation phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to reinforce that the United States stands with Israel in the wake of the terrorist attack by Hamas.

“Our delegation presented a united, bipartisan front to Chinese President Xi on the need for China to treat American businesses fairly, aggressively combat fentanyl trafficking, and speak out against Hamas’s terrorism,” said Senator Hassan. “East Asia is a critical region to our country’s national security and economic interests. I will continue working to ensure that the United States can outcompete China and maintain our economic and military edge, while also working constructively to manage the relationship between our two countries.”

In China, the delegation met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, Foreign Minister and Director of the Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, and others. During the meeting with President Xi and throughout their time in China, Senator Hassan and the rest of the delegation stressed the need for a fair playing field for American businesses, especially when it comes to critical technologies like semiconductors. Additionally, Senator Hassan pressed the Chinese government to work with the United States and do more to combat the illicit fentanyl trafficking that continues to fuel the opioid epidemic in the U.S. The delegation also urged the Chinese government to strengthen its statement in response to Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel, which they later did. In addition, the delegation pushed the Chinese government on the need to stand up to Putin and oppose his unconscionable war on Ukraine. Senator Hassan also joined meetings with, among others, key business leaders representing American companies in Shanghai and Beijing to learn more about the barriers American companies face as well as the particular competition American businesses face in the auto industry.

Hassan also had the opportunity to express support for Israel to the Israeli Ambassador to China and joined a phone call to Israeli President Isaac Herzog from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to receive an update on Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel. Senator Hassan and the delegation reiterated the bipartisan and ironclad support in the United States Senate for the people of Israel and that they will work to ensure that Israel has the support it needs in its fight against Hamas.

In South Korea, Senator Hassan and the delegation met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss areas of continued cooperation between the United States and South Korea. The Senators discussed the continued close security partnership between the U.S. and South Korea against adversaries like Russia and North Korea, as well as economic partnerships between the two countries, especially as the U.S. increases its investments in critical technologies as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. During the meeting, President Yoon also condemned Hamas’s terrorist attacks in Israel, and the delegation reiterated the U.S.’s strong support for Israel. In South Korea, Senator Hassan also met with business leaders of Korean companies with a significant presence in the United States.

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