Trump congratulates China on anniversary as GOP lawmakers decry communist rule

President Trump on Tuesday congratulated the People’s Republic of China on its 70th anniversary in a sharp contrast from several Republican lawmakers who decried the legacy of the country’s communist rule.

Tuesday marked 70 years since Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China after communist forces won a civil war in the country.{mosads}

Trump congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on the anniversary on Twitter. 

Congratulations to President Xi and the Chinese people on the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2019

Several Republican lawmakers took a more adversarial tone than Trump in recognizing the anniversary, choosing instead to highlight the country’s human rights abuses.

“I will pass,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) tweeted in response to Trump.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) issued a somber statement saying it was “not a day for celebration.”

“Since its founding, the People’s Republic of China has deprived its citizens of their fundamental human rights and human dignity,” Cheney said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement that the Chinese Communist Party’s methods are “not just a tragedy for more than a billion Chinese,” but “also a telling indicator of the threat the PRC poses to its neighbors.”

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a staunch Trump ally, cited China’s ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong as evidence of the country’s repressive government.

“The Butchers of Beijing celebrate 70 years of communist tyranny by shooting a student marching for freedom in Hong Kong,” Cotton tweeted. “What a sadly appropriate way to mark a dark, lamentable anniversary.” 

The Butchers of Beijing celebrate 70 years of communist tyranny by shooting a student marching for freedom in Hong Kong. What a sadly appropriate way to mark a dark, lamentable anniversary. https://t.co/UbC3qQDKTV

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) October 1, 2019

Trump has made his relationship with China a cornerstone of his administration as he seeks a trade agreement with Beijing. The president previously delayed the implementation of increased tariffs on Chinese goods as a gesture of goodwill toward China.

Trump drew criticism for his response to protests in Hong Kong, where demonstrators have flooded the streets and other public places. The president has urged China to resolve the issue peacefully, but has not delivered a full-throated statement of support of the protesters.

He has also claimed that ongoing trade negotiations have helped limit potential violence.

Hong Kong police shot one protester in the chest during a demonstration on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

“This is what 70 years of Communist rule looks like in China—freedom is trampled and dissent is silenced,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) tweeted Tuesday afternoon, citing the shooting.

Some Trump administration officials, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have spoken out about China’s human rights abuses specifically related to Uighur Muslims.

Updated at 4:24 p.m.