Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the recent jail sentences given to (a) journalist and human rights activist Liu Feiyue and (b) human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang.

We are deeply concerned about reports that human rights lawyers and activists are being detained in China.

I raised Wang Quanzhang's case with the Chinese Government during my visit last July. My colleague the Foreign Secretary also raised Wang Quanzhang's case last July, when he met Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi.

The Foreign Secretary also released a statement on 29 January 2019, which expressed concern over the sentencing of both Wang Quanzhang and Liu Feiyue, and urged the Chinese government to ensure fundamental civil and political rights are protected, in line with China's constitution and its international commitments.

Since then, senior diplomats in Beijing, including the British Ambassador to China, have met with Wang Quanzhang's family. A British diplomat also attempted to attend Mr Wang's trial on 26 December, though was denied entry to the courtroom. We continue to monitor his case.