Ruairí Quinn
Question:46 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has expressed concern to the Chinese Ambassador in relation to the continuing harassment of students involved in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
Written Answers. - Harassment of Chinese Students.
The Government's concern about the human rights situation in China has been conveyed to the Chinese authorities, including the Chinese Ambassador, on a number of occasions.
As I outlined in my reply to Dáil Questions on the issue on 29 November 1990, Ireland and its partners in the Twelve member states of the European Community have consistently raised the issue of human rights in China, both directly with the Chinese authorities and in the appropriate international fora. Our concerns in this regard are based on widespread reports of repressive action taken against individuals who wish to exercise their fundamental right to free speech.
The Troika of the Twelve at ministerial level met with the Chinese Foreign Ministers on 28 September 1990. This opportunity was fully utilised to convey again our deep anxieties regarding human rights in China. The Chinese Foreign Minister stressed China's commitment to human rights and recalled China's ratification of many UN conventions in this field. He reiterated his country's commitment to reform and a policy of openness and said that respect for human rights should be embedded in internal law and find adequate protection there. I welcome this positive reaction from the Chinese Foreign Minister and I hope that it will lead to a genuine improvement in the human rights situation in China.
On 26 November 1990, in the Third Committee of the United Nations, the European community and its member states reiterated their concern at the human rights situation in China. They called upon the Chinese authorities, in keeping with their international obligations, to guarantee full respect for human rights throughout China.
Ireland and its partners in the Twelve member states of the European Community will pursue their dialogue with the Chinese authorities, using all the available channels, to urge them to promote and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.