Chinese labour camps in Tibet

15.12.2020

Question for written answer  E-006975/2020
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Mikuláš Peksa (Verts/ALE), Michaela Šojdrová (PPE), Patrick Breyer (Verts/ALE), Hannes Heide (S&D), Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Aušra Maldeikienė (PPE), Ivan Štefanec (PPE), Salima Yenbou (Verts/ALE), Francisco Guerreiro (Verts/ALE), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI)

The internment camps in the Xinjiang region have rightfully attracted extensive attention from the EU, and Parliament has previously called for sanctions over this blatant violation of human rights. We must not forget that similar atrocities are being committed against the people of Tibet.

According to a Jamestown Foundation report, over 500 000 Tibetans have been hauled to these labour camps to learn ‘work discipline, the Chinese language and ethics’. This shows an unacceptable disregard for human rights and for the religious, political but also personal freedom of Tibetans. Against this backdrop:

• 1.Is the Commission working on a sanctions regime or taking any other concrete actions against the individuals responsible for the labour camps in Tibet, including Chen Quanguo – the architect of these camps?
• 2.Will it take these Tibetan labour camps into consideration during cooperation talks with China, for example during the negotiation of the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement?
• 3.In the light of the Commission President’s public statement at the last EU-China summit that fundamental human rights are non-negotiable, how will these camps and other human rights violations in Tibet be addressed in the next EU-China human rights dialogue and summit?

Supporters[1]

• [1] This question is supported by Members other than the authors: Clara Ponsatí Obiols (NI), Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó (NI), Antoni Comín i Oliveres (NI)