MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and Lee Ming-Che

4.7.2017 - (2017/2754(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Hilde Vautmans, Petras Auštrevičius, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Gérard Deprez, Martina Dlabajová, Fredrick Federley, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Louis Michel, Urmas Paet, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Marietje Schaake, Pavel Telička, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Ivo Vajgl, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Cecilia Wikström on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0459/2017

B8‑0461/2017

European Parliament resolution on the cases of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and Lee Ming-Che

(2017/2754(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the remarks made by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, on 2 June 2017 after the 19th bilateral EU-China summit in Brussels, in which he expressed concern about freedom of expression and association in China, including the detention of human rights lawyers and defenders,

 

-having regard to the EU–China Dialogue on Human Rights launched in 1995, and to the 35th round held in Brussels on 22-23 June 2017, where the EU raised the case of Liu Xiaobo,

 

-having regard to the EU-China Legal Affairs Dialogue, launched in Beijing on 20 June 2016,

-having regard to the EU-China Strategic Partnership launched in 2003 and to the European Commission and EEAS joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 22 June 2016 entitled ‘Elements for a new EU strategy on China’ ,

 

-having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2015 and of 14 March 2013 on EU-China relations,

 

-having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2010 on human rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu Xiaobo,

 

-having regard to the statement by the then EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, Brussels 10 December 2010,

 

-having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966,

 

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

 

-having regard to Rule 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A.whereas China’s Nobel Peace Laureate, Liu Xiaobo, who was imprisoned since 2009, has been released to be treated for late-stage liver cancer but remains under police guard in a hospital; whereas the family of Liu states that he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer on May 23rd 2017; whereas the Chinese authorities have refused permission for Liu to go abroad for cancer treatment;

 

B.whereas Liu was jailed in 2009 for the sentence of 11 years for inciting subversion of state power, after helping to author the Charter 08 manifesto, calling for 19 changes to be made in the Chinese government, including the elimination of the one-party rule;

 

C.whereas Liu is known for his criticism against the Chinese government and being arrested multiple times, including during the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations; whereas Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for his commitment to non-violent protest and human rights;

 

D.Whereas Lius’ wife, Liu Xia, remains under house arrest in Beijing even though she has never been accused or convicted of any crime; whereas Xiaobo has been allowed to see his wife, but contact with the outside world is very limited for both;

 

E.whereas the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations within the Territory of China came into effect in January 2017;

 

F.whereas Taiwanese human rights activist, Lee Ming-che, a regular visitor to China, went missing on 19 March 2017 after entering the semi-autonomous Chinese territory of Macau;

 

G.whereas the relations between Taiwan and China have been deteriorating over the last years;

 

H.whereas on 29 March 2017, China confirmed that Lee Ming-che had been arrested and that he was suspected of pursuing activities harmful to national security;

 

I.whereas Lee has been arrested by the People’s Republic of China on charges of subversion of state power; whereas already in mid-2016 Chinese authorities had shut down Lee’s WeChat account and confiscated a box of books published in Taiwan on political and cultural issues;

 

J.whereas according to Human Rights Watch, since President Xi came to power in March 2013, Chinese authorities have apprehended citizens of other countries for their work helping Chinese human rights lawyers and activists or for speaking critically of Chinese leaders; whereas the detention of Lee Ming-che marks the first time Chinese authorities have charged someone from Taiwan with subversion;

 

K.whereas the case of Lee Ming-che has attracted a high level of public attention in Taiwan and has added a new strain on Cross-strait relations;

 

L.whereas people charged with subversion of state power can be sentenced to a lifelong imprisonment;

 

M.whereas China signed the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights on October 5, 1998 but has yet to ratify it;

 

1.calls upon the Chinese government to immediately ensure that Liu Xiaobo receives adequate medical care, effective access to his family and friends and the freedom to travel;

 

2.urges the Chinese government to immediately release credible evidence about the detention of Lee Ming-che, to ensure his right to counsel, to his family and lawyers to visit him, as well as to adequate medical care;

 

3.calls upon the Chinese government to promptly communicate with Taiwan through existing official cross-Strait channels; recalls the significant contribution of NGOs to the development of cross-Strait relations and their efforts for cross-Strait peace;

 

4.strongly calls on the government of China to ensure that all who are imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights are immediately and unconditionally released;

 

5.notes that the charge of subversion of state power is often used as a pretext to attack dissidents;

 

6.remains highly concerned by the Chinese government’s continued efforts to silence civil society, including human rights defenders, activists and lawyers; is particularly concerned at the Foreign NGO Management Law that has entered into force on 1 January 2017, which could drastically hamper the activities of Chinese civil society and could severely restrict the freedoms of association and expression in the country, calls on the Chinese authorities to provide a safe and fair environment and transparent processes which allow NGOs to operate freely and effectively in China;

 

7.urges the People's Republic of China to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; calls for ratification of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and signing and ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances;

 

8.Welcomes the 35th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue that was held on 22 June 2017; stresses that the EU remains fully committed to a meaningful debate with China on human rights; takes however the view that, in light of the deteriorating human rights situation in China, the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue should be strengthened and that human rights issues and cases should systematically be discussed in all high-level EU-China meetings;

 

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government and the Parliament of the Peoples’ Republic of China.