MEPs press EU to confront China over human rights violations in Hong Kong

Last night, the European Parliament held a plenary debate on EU-China relations. Members of the European Parliament referred to China as “a partner, but increasingly a competitor and systemic rival”. MEPs also recognised the need to de-risk trade flows to safeguard the strategic autonomy of the EU as well as limit Chinese Communist Party control in EU critical infrastructure and cyberspace.

Adopted with 529 out of 616 votes in favour, the EU passed recommendations that encourage the EU to continue engaging pragmatically with China on climate change, financial stability risks and security issues while proceeding with caution given that the Chinese Communist Party does not hold the same democratic values as EU Member States. The recommendations also call on the EU to provide a robust response to Beijing’s efforts to reshape the multilateral rules-based order through plans such as the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Referring to recent developments in Hong Kong and Macau as well as the alarming situations in Xinjiang and Tibet, the recommendations urge the EU to call on Beijing to stop committing human rights violations against religious and ethnic minorities.

This debate follows last week’s EU-China summit in Beijing, where the EU reiterated its concern about “the continued erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, where China should honour its prior commitments.” The EU also expressed its desire for the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue of February 2023 to resume and take place in China in 2024.

In June 2023, the European Parliament adopted a resolution which calls attention to the ongoing dismantling of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, which it refers to as “in clear breach of the so-called ‘One Country Two Systems’ principle.” This resolution followed the 2022 and 2020 European Parliament resolutions on Hong Kong which called on Member States to respond to the National Security Law and implement lifeboat schemes to allow Hong Kongers to flee from Hong Kong to the EU.

MEP Hilde Vautmans, European Parliament Standing Rapporteur on China, said: 

“We can no longer be naive when dealing with China – it is an important trading partner, but increasingly a systemic rival and competitor. Today we make clear that the EU must react to an assertive China by implementing a bold new strategy. We must continue to cooperate with China where possible, based on reciprocal rules. But Europe must never turn a blind eye to China's human rights violations. To uphold our values and interests, we urgently need to strengthen our strategic autonomy and de-risk our relations and we must speak with one European voice when we do.”

MEP Engin Eroglu, member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), said:

“I welcome the call on Beijing to stop the persecution of dissidents and religious and ethnic minorities and the human rights violations against Uyghurs and Tibetans. I also support the call for lifeboat schemes for the Hong Kong diaspora.”

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“We welcome the fact that the EU is keeping the threat of the Chinese Communist Party on the top of its agenda following the EU-China summit. We thank MEP Engin Eroglu and other MEPs who continue to recognise and support the people of Hong Kong. However, EU leaders must prepare concrete responses against Beijing’s dismantling of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong. The EU should target China’s international business sector while exploring lifeboat schemes that would allow Hong Kongers to escape the repressive hand of the Chinese Communist Party by relocating to the EU.”