Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to increase the number and frequency of 'freedom of navigation' operations through contested areas in the East and South China Seas, including the Taiwan Strait.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely comment on future deployments for reasons of operational security. However, the UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the East and South China Seas along with the Taiwan Strait, and remains committed to upholding international law and to freedom of navigation.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have offered to receive any Uyghur refugees held in detention centres in other countries or facing repatriation to China.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom will always take seriously our responsibility, alongside others, to help those fleeing war and persecution. Under the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), the UK relies upon referrals from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UNHCR has the global mandate to provide international protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees. UNHCR refer individuals for resettlement in accordance with their standard resettlement submission criteria, which are based on an assessment of protection needs and vulnerabilities. The UK does not seek to influence the cases that the UNHCR refers.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent they take account of the resolution of the House of Commons of 22 April 2021 declaring Uyghur Muslims to be subjected to a genocide in Xinjiang when determining their policy with regard to refugee status.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of any relevant caselaw and the latest available country information. Our position on the Uyghurs in China is set out in the relevant country policy and information note on the gov.uk website.
When someone establishes a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm in their country, they are normally granted protection and are not expected to return there.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to establishing a cybersecurity dialogue with Taiwan similar to the UK–Singapore Cyber Dialogue; and whether they intend to support Taiwanese participation in the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, to address shared cybersecurity challenges.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK-Singapore Cyber Dialogue held on 13 June 2023 in London was followed by a second iteration in Singapore from 12-13 June 2024. The Dialogues strengthen our close ties on cyber collaboration and align our approaches in cyber governance and tackling cyber threats.
The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. We do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship with deep and growing ties in a range of areas, underpinned by shared democratic values. We support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite, and as an observer or guest where it is.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Assistant United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that deportations of Uyghurs to China are “a flagrant violation of international law”, as reported by The New York Times on 10 November; whether they have raised this issue at the UN Human Rights Council or the UN General Assembly; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government stands firm on human rights, including over Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary both raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang. We continue to coordinate efforts with our international partners to hold China to account: we joined a statement led by Australia at the UN General Assembly last month, and joined a statement led by the USA at the Human Rights Council in September. Both statements noted evidence of torture in Xinjiang, among other human rights violations. The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations under international human rights law, including under the Convention Against Torture.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about reports by human rights groups that repatriated or abducted Uyghur refugees are likely to be tortured or executed by that government.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government stands firm on human rights, including over Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary both raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang. We continue to coordinate efforts with our international partners to hold China to account: we joined a statement led by Australia at the UN General Assembly last month, and joined a statement led by the USA at the Human Rights Council in September. Both statements noted evidence of torture in Xinjiang, among other human rights violations. The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations under international human rights law, including under the Convention Against Torture.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization to promote participation by Taiwanese companies and other stakeholders, in response to China’s increased military activities in the Taiwan Strait.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. This includes increased Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan.
The UK believes the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern, and the UK supports Taiwanese participation at international organisations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite, or as an observer or guest where it is.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) intends to raise issues relating to human rights in Hong Kong, including the forthcoming sentencing of 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, convicted under National Security Law, the case of political prisoners including Joshua Wong, Gwyneth Ho, Jimmy Lai and Owen Chow, and transnational repression, during her visit to Hong Kong.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West MP visited Hong Kong for a two-day programme of engagements. Minister West met with stakeholders across the Hong Kong Government, the business community and the public to discuss areas of co-operation and challenge on areas of contention.
In her engagements with Hong Kong Government officials, the Minister flagged concerns over the erosion of Hong Kong's rights and freedoms, including under the National Security Law.