China: Human Rights

(asked on 29th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to reports of the forced sterilisation of the Uighur people by the Chinese authorities, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on potential breaches of human rights in that country.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 13th July 2020

We are aware of reports that the Chinese Government is using forced sterilisation to minimise Uyghur birth rates. These reports add to our concern about the situation in Xinjiang. On 9 March, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi. Additionally I set out during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on 29 June, these reports add to our concern about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and we are considering them carefully.

On 30 June, the UK read out a statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting concerns about arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions in Xinjiang.

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