Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
527. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the latest sanctions announced by the European Union on China on 22 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17351/21]
View answer528. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has sought to meet with Ambassador He Xiangdong following the sanctions announced by the European Union on China on 22 March 2020. [17352/21]
View answer529. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his most recent engagement with Ambassador He Xiangdong following the sanctions announced by the European Union on China on 22 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17353/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 527 to 529, inclusive, together.
On 7 December 2020, the European Council adopted the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR), which allows the EU to target serious human rights violations and abuses by state and non-state actors worldwide. It enables the EU to stand up quickly and in a more tangible and direct way for human rights, one of the fundamental values of the EU and its foreign policy.
At the Foreign Affairs Council on the 22nd of March, and in keeping with the political commitment to swiftly adopt the first listings under the EUGHRSR, 11 individuals and 4 entities from China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Libya, Eritrea, South Sudan and Russia were identified as targets for sanctions.
In relation to China, the EU has stated that it continues to be gravely concerned about the existence of a large network of political re-education camps, widespread surveillance, and systemic restrictions on freedom of religion or belief against Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
Therefore, the EU has targeted four Chinese persons and one entity with an assets freeze and travel ban under the terms of the EUGHRSR. The use of these sanctions is designed to act as a deterrent and encourage changes in these actors’ behaviour. They are based on solid legal evidence and are deployed in addition to other measures such as dialogue.
The EU’s approach is in contrast to the retaliatory approach taken by China, which is seen as an attempt to punish the EU and its Member States and is not an answer to the legitimate concern expressed by the EU on the human rights situation in Xinjiang. The arbitrary list of sanctions released by Beijing, which targets academics, parliamentarians and diplomats as well as their families, is in fact an attack on academic freedom and freedom of expression.
In common with other Member States, Ireland has raised with China its concerns regarding the situation in Xinjiang on a number of occasions, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora such as the UN Human Rights Council and UN Third Committee. In these interventions we have called on China to respect human rights and allow immediate and unrestricted access to the region. We have also urged China to implement urgently the eight recommendations made by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination related to Xinjiang, and have also called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide regular information on the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law. Most recently, Ireland raised these concerns during our national statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 15 March.
Bilaterally, as is standard practice, my officials have discussed the situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese Ambassador and most recently have discussed, at senior level, the application of the EUGHRSR, as well as China's retaliatory actions.
