Chuck Schumer Ends Senate Trip to Asia Early to Address Israel-Gaza War

A bipartisan congressional delegation of senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York is returning to the United States earlier than planned.

Schumer planned to lead a six-member delegation this week to China, South Korea and Japan to meet with government and business leaders and U.S. companies. Other participants included Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; John Kennedy, R-La.; and Jon Ossof, D-Ga.

But the group will now depart Asia on Wednesday and return to the U.S. by Thursday evening due to the war in Israel. Schumer will receive a classified briefing and updates when he returns to New York, where he’s also expected to attend community events, meet with community leaders, go to Shabbat and spend time with his family over the weekend.

“Following very productive meetings in China — including with President Xi —  and in light of the  tragic events unfolding in Israel, the bipartisan members of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s congressional delegation are moving up their meeting with South Korean President Yoon to Wednesday and will return to the U.S. on Thursday,” a Schumer spokeswoman said. “Leader Schumer will be back in New York Thursday evening.”

Schumer’s congressional delegation spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzong from the American Embassy in Beijing, according to a readout.

“Leader Schumer, the highest ranking Jewish official in American history, told President Herzog that although his heart aches for Israel, he stood firm in the bipartisan support in the United States Senate for Israel and stands ready to do whatever it takes to ensure Israel has the resources it needs,” the readout said.

“Additionally, the delegation met Tuesday night with a group of ambassadors of allied nations at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Beijing,” the readout continued. “The delegation expressed their support for Israel and urged their governments to do everything they can to stand in solidarity with the country.”

Schumer condemned Hamas’ “absolutely horrific” terrorist attack in a statement Saturday, adding that the U.S. “stands with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself.”

He spoke with top officials from the CIA and State Department from the Shanghai Consulate later Saturday and participated in an unclassified briefing Sunday alongside Senate leaders, whips and the top Democrats and Republicans across multiple committees.

“I told senators that we will try to hold a classified briefing they can receive in their states as soon as possible so we can get additional details that could not be disclosed on this call,” Schumer said Sunday.

On Monday, after meeting separately with Xi and Chinese Foreign Secretary Wang Yi, Schumer’s office said he successfully got the Chinese government to reissue stronger statements on their support for Israel and stand against terrorism.

“I raised with President Xi the unfolding atrocities carried out against Israel and the need for the world community to stand together against terrorism and with the Israeli people, and pointedly requested from President Xi that the Chinese Foreign Minister strengthen their statement,” Schumer said. “They did.”