China-EU Clash in Human Rights Dialogue: "No Allowance for External Interference"

EU "Human Rights Repression Very Serious"

China and the European Union (EU) held their annual human rights dialogue in Chongqing, China, on the 16th, discussing human rights issues, but reportedly ended in conflict due to differences in opinion.

On the 18th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that during this year's human rights dialogue, "China lodged a solemn representation (diplomatic protest) regarding the content related to China, Hong Kong, and Macau in the EU's recently released annual report on global human rights and democracy for the previous year."

The report included content alleging that China suppresses ethnic minorities and religions in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Tibet. It is also known to have expressed concerns about the strengthening of social control in Hong Kong and Macau.

China protested, saying, "Issues concerning Xinjiang, Xizang (西藏, Tibet), Hong Kong, and judicial cases are purely internal affairs of China and do not allow external interference," and urged to "seriously respect the facts and the path of human rights development autonomously chosen by the Chinese people."

On the other hand, the EU, in a statement released after the human rights dialogue, claimed that the human rights situation in China is very serious. The EU criticized, "Human rights repression against activists, lawyers, and journalists in China is very severe." They also demanded an end to illegal detention, enforced disappearances, torture, and abuse of related individuals.

The human rights dialogue held by China and the EU is an annual meeting that alternates between the two sides. This year, the Chinese delegation included Xianbo, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' International Department, and the EU delegation was led by Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Director for Asia-Pacific at the European External Action Service, along with representatives from China's legislative, judicial, and ethnic affairs sectors.