This year marks significant anniversaries in the relationship between the European Union and China. It is the 50th anniversary of their bilateral relations and the 40th iteration of their annual human rights dialogue, set to take place in Brussels on June 13. However, progress from these dialogues remains elusive when it comes to human rights improvements in China.
Human Rights Watch expressed its concerns in a May 15 submission to the EU, criticizing the ongoing human rights dialogue with China. The organization, along with others, has repeatedly described the discussions as ineffective, noting that private criticisms have not led to tangible changes.
The EU has been unsuccessful in addressing cases such as Gui Minhai’s detention. Gui, a Swedish bookseller, was arrested by Beijing and sentenced to ten years in prison without just cause. Additionally, there has been no contact or updates on Ilham Tohti, a Uyghur scholar and Sakharov Prize laureate sentenced to life imprisonment for his activism. He has been denied family visits since 2017.
These instances highlight what some view as the EU’s inability to effectively challenge China’s repression under Xi Jinping’s leadership. Concerns include issues in regions like Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.
A pivotal report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2022 found that China’s policies towards Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims could be classified as “international crimes,” particularly crimes against humanity. The EU is urged to push for unrestricted access for a UN follow-up visit.
The difficulty of pressuring China on human rights is acknowledged. However, critics argue that relegating human rights discussions to lower-level private talks may inadvertently support China’s efforts to minimize these issues’ importance. They suggest integrating human rights into all facets of engagement with China at higher-level meetings.
EU leaders are encouraged to address these concerns more assertively during upcoming summits and strategic dialogues with concrete repercussions should China continue its repressive actions.
