Britain’s Conservative Party questions UK’s China policy over severe human rights crack down
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, June 28: China’s deteriorating human rights record under Chinese president Xi Jinping’s regime has forced Britain’s Conservative Party parliamentarians to questions their ‘golden’ friendship with China.
The commission will launch a report titled “The Darkest Moment: The Crackdown on Human Rights in China 2013-2016 ” today, in light of China’s deteriorating human rights record since 2013 asking the UK government to reconsider its China policy based on the report’s findings, reports International Business Times, June 27.
The report details China’s brutal crackdown on human rights lawyers, its alleged use of torture, the abduction of Hong Kong booksellers, issues on freedom of expression, the situation in Tibet and Hong Kong, and the use of reportedly forced televised confessions.
The Chairperson of the Conservative Party’s Human Right Commission, Fiona Bruce described the situation as the worst China has seen since the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, and added “We believe it is time for the U.K. Government to rethink its approach to China, to speak out publicly and consistently on human rights, and consider ways it can more effectively promote and protect basic rights that are being gravely violated in mainland China and in Hong Kong.”
According to media reports, it contains evidence from the leader of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong Joshua Wong, winner of Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin, who was banned from China for her human rights work (Lin recently attended a conference held at Dharamsala, with over 60 foreign delegates to push for democracy in China) and the blind human rights activist, Chen Guangcheng.
Former Hong Kong Chief Secretary, Anson Chan and the founder of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, Martin Lee also co-wrote a submission to the inquiry, reports Hong Kong Free Press, June 27.
“This is a comprehensive and well researched analysis of China’s increasingly deplorable human rights record. I am obviously concerned about what has been happening in Hong Kong. The British Government must take account of this first-class piece of work,” said Chris Patten, the former Governor of Hong Kong who will launch the report on Tuesday.
Relations between the UK and China have improved drastically in recent years, with British politicians openly stating their desire to become ‘China’s best partner in the West.’
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK last year, several large trade deals were struck between the two nations, including a deal for a Chinese nuclear power plant on British soil.
