China: Human Rights

(asked on 24th February 2025) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in China on the treatment of (a) Falun Gong and (b) Shen Yun practitioners outside China.


Answered by
Catherine West Portrait
Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 4th March 2025

Within China, the environment for freedom of religion or belief is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. This government will work to uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief for all abroad, for example through bilateral engagement. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Chancellor all raised human rights recently with their counterparts (President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang and Vice Premier He respectively).

The freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under UK law, regardless of their nationality.

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