Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the Chinese surveillance companies (1) Dahua, and (2) Hikvision; what assessment they have made of any links between those companies and human rights abuses in the Xinjiang province; and what assessment they have made of whether they constitute a security threat to the UK.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK takes its national security extremely seriously. On 24 November 2022, the Government announced that Departments should cease deployment of visual surveillance systems produced by companies subject to China's National Intelligence Law onto sensitive sites. The Government has also consistently led international efforts to hold China to account for its human rights violations, including the use of invasive surveillance to target Uyghurs and other minorities. On 31 October, we supported a joint statement at the UN Third Committee alongside 49 other countries that specifically called out China's systematic use of invasive surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity. We also consistently raise the situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities at the highest levels. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary did so in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart on 20 September.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner report OHCHR Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, published on 31 August, which found that human rights violations against the Uyghur population "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity", what steps they are taking in response to that finding.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims.
The UK has led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary did so in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart on 20 September.
Given the seriousness of the report's findings, on 6 October we supported formal action at the UN Human Rights Council that requested a Council Debate on the situation in Xinjiang. While this vote didn't pass, China's attempts to stifle debate and hide the truth will not succeed. We will continue to work with our partners to hold the Chinese authorities to account and continue to shine a spotlight on China's human rights violations.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to the government of Thailand to help the situation of refugees, particularly Uyghur refugees facing the risk of refoulement.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
We have raised the detention of Uyghurs in Thailand directly with the Thai authorities at both Ministerial and official level, and continue to work closely with likeminded partners on the issue.
We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of or Punishment, not to undertake the refoulement of these individuals to China.
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 Thailand regarding over 50 Uyghur refugees who have been in detention for close to 10 years in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
We have raised the detention of Uyghurs in Thailand directly with the Thai authorities at both Ministerial and official level, and continue to work closely with likeminded partners on the issue.
We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of or Punishment, not to undertake the refoulement of these individuals to China.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that crimes have been committed against Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China; and what steps they are taking in response to ensure that the perpetrators of any such crimes are brought to justice.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims.
The UK has led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary did so in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart on 20 September.
Given the seriousness of the report's findings, on 6 October we supported formal action at the UN Human Rights Council that requested a Council Debate on the situation in Xinjiang. While this vote didn't pass, China's attempts to stifle debate and hide the truth will not succeed. We will continue to work with our partners to hold the Chinese authorities to account and continue to shine a spotlight on China's human rights violations.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to table motions for consideration at (1) the UN Human Rights Council, (2) the General Assembly, and (3) the Security Council, following the United Nations report OHCHR Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China, published on 31 August.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims.
The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing.
We have raised the report's findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing. We are now considering appropriate next steps with our international partners.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts about the treatment of Uighur Muslims.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The UK Government regularly raises the human rights situation in Xinjiang directly with the Chinese authorities at the highest levels. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary did so in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart on 20 September. The UK also continues to lead wider international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, and funded research to expose China's actions.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he plans to make to the government of China about the reports of threats to life caused by lockdowns in the Uyghur regions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
While most countries have now relaxed Covid restrictions, China continues to operate a "zero-Covid policy" across the whole country which frequently results in large scale lockdowns in response to relatively low numbers of cases.
More broadly, we continue to monitor the ongoing human rights violations in Xinjiang. In response the UK has led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing.
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 findings in the United Nations report OHCHR Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China, published on 31 August; and what discussions they intend to have with the government of China in response.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims.
The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing.
We have raised the report's findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing. We are now considering appropriate next steps with our international partners.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of crimes being committed against (1) Uyghurs, (2) Kazakhs, and (3) other Turkish Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang in China; and what discussions they have had with international partners about taking steps to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, any such crimes.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims. The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing. Given the seriousness of the report's findings, we are now supporting formal action at the current Human Rights Council (HRC) that will request a Council Debate on the situation in Xinjiang. If successful, this would be the first time we have succeeded in putting China on the Council's agenda. We have also raised the report's findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing.