The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the cases of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and Lee Ming-che.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.
Members recalled that Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese writer and human rights activist, was imprisoned for ‘inciting subversion of state power’ after contributing to the drafting of the manifesto known as ‘Charter 08’. They stated that the formal proceedings during the trial did not allow Liu Xiaobo to be represented or to attend the proceedings himself.
They also indicated that Liu Xiaobo's wife, Liu Xia, although never charged with any offence, has been under house arrest since he was awarded the Peace Prize in 2010.
Members also noted that Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese pro-democracy activist, went missing on 19 March 2017 after travelling from Macau into Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong province. He was detained on suspicion of engaging in activities that endanger national security.
They called on the Chinese Government to release, immediately and unconditionally, the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia from house arrest and to release Lee Ming-che immediately.
They remained highly concerned by the Chinese Government’s continued efforts to silence civil society actors and recalled that that EU should raise the issue of human rights violations in China during every political and human rights dialogue with the Chinese authorities.
Lastly, Members urged all EU Member States to adopt a firm, values-based approach towards China and expects them not to undertake unilateral initiatives or acts that might undermine the coherence, effectiveness and consistency of EU action.