China (Hansard, 12 February 2004)

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights record of China since the killings in Tiananmen Square in 1989, with particular reference to(a) the treatment of cyber-dissidents, (b) the treatment of Uighur separatists, (c) the use of torture and the death penalty and (d) respect for political and religious freedom in Tibet. [154646]

§ Mr. Rammell
We monitor the human rights situation in China closely and raise our concerns both at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue and at ministerial level meetings. Most recently I raised human rights issues with Vice Minister Zhang Yesui of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 17 December 2003.
The last round of our biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue was held in Beijing on 10 to 11 November 2003. We raised our concerns about a wide range of issues, including: 1652W freedom of expression; and asked for further information and clemency for five internet activists; the situation in Xinjiang where the UK delegation visited and discussed human rights with Xinjiang officials. A list of Uighur cases of concern was handed over; the use of forced confessions; the application of the death penalty and lack of statistics on its application. We fund several projects in these sensitive areas; and the situation in Tibet and encouraged China to continue its contact with representations of the Dalai Lama.

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to oppose the lifting of the European Union arms embargo on China; and if he will make a statement. [154648]

§ Mr. Rammell
The European Council on 12 December 2003 invited the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to re-examine the EU Arms Embargo on China. The GAERC met on 26 January 2004 and decided to remit the issue to the relevant working groups for detailed examination. The issue will revert to a future GAERC.
We welcome the review and are currently considering the UK's position. In the meantime, we will continue fully to implement the Arms Embargo.