Pelosi says addressing climate change with China is 'overriding issue' despite human rights abuses

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi argued Thursday that opening a dialogue with China on climate change must take priority as the “overriding issue,” despite a slurry of threats posed by the communist nation.

Pelosi, D-Calif., pointed to human rights abuses – including the Uyghur genocide in western China – security threats and economic challenges China poses for the U.S. but said those issues were subsidiary compared to climate change. 

"With their military aggression in the South China Sea, with their continuation of genocide with the Uyghurs in Xinjiang province, with their violation of the cultural… religious priority of Tibet, with their suppression of democracy in Hong Kong and other parts of China as well – they’re just getting worse in terms of suppression," the House speaker said.