Foreign Secretary visit to China tests coalition's resolve to "stand firm on human rights"

William Hague’s visit to China this week will test the coalition’s resolve of “standing firm on human rights” as it “seek[s] closer engagement with China”, as pledged in the manifesto.

Stephanie Brigden, director of Free Tibet says: “We want to see some substance behind the Foreign Secretary’s vision of an enlightened foreign policy with human rights at its ‘irreducible core”. (1)

The Foreign Secretary will be chairing the Sino-British Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Wednesday 14 July, during his first visit to China as Foreign Secretary. As the Foreign Secretary sets the tone for UK China relations, Free Tibet is calling on Mr Hague to make a public statement on human rights in Tibet during his visit.

Free Tibet is disappointed this visit by the Foreign Secretary was announced first by Chinese state media in a move that shows a worrying lack of transparency on the UK government’s part. Human rights organisations have not been consulted prior to the dialogue which, given the government’s outward commitment to human rights, brings further cause for concern. 

The previous government’s strategy to address human rights in Tibet and China failed: human rights were relegated to a standalone under-resourced process; successes were measured against meetings taking place and not on concrete outcomes. Mr Hague’s predecessor reduced human rights concerns in Tibet to conversations behind closed doors, masked by stronger statements at home to appease UK public opinion.

In 2009 the Foreign Affairs Select Committee concluded that "…there remains little evidence that the British Government’s policy of constructive dialogue with China has led to any significant improvements in the human rights situation.” (2)

A new, more robust approach to address human rights in Tibet and China is now necessary.

Stephanie Brigden adds:

“Human rights must be an integral component of the UK’s relationship with China. Other countries like Germany which enjoy greater economic ties with China take a much firmer stand on human rights, including on Tibet. The urgent need for Tibetan and Chinese people to be afforded basic human rights affects us all. The protests that swept across Tibet in 2008 and acts of civil disobedience which continue up to today are not limited to Tibet. Instances of civil unrest, labour protests, picketing and group petitions are growing across China. The stability of China, Tibet and subsequently international security and the global economy depend on it.”

Ends

Notes to Editor

1. Speech by the Foreign Secretary outlining the Government’s vision for UK foreign policy 1 July 2010,  The Locarno Room, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=Speech&id=22462590
2. Paragraph 33, Page 10, Human Rights Annual Report 2008-09, Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
3. Early Day Motion 2133 and 345, tabled by Kate Hoey MP “That this House notes the Foreign Affairs select committee's recent statement that there is little evidence that the Government's policy of constructive engagement is leading to any significant human rights improvements in Tibet and China; further notes that the change made in 2008 by the Government to view Tibet henceforth as part of China was made without parliamentary oversight and has failed to lead to the human rights gains in return that were predicted by the Foreign Secretary at the time; recognises that the Government's weakening commitment to protect human rights in Tibet in recent years has coincided with a dramatic worsening of the human rights situation in Tibet; calls on the Foreign Affairs select committee to conduct a formal inquiry into the effectiveness of strategies being employed by the Government within its overall policy towards China, to protect and promote the human rights of the Tibetan and Chinese people.”
4. Free Tibet is an international campaigning organisation that stands for the right of Tibetans to determine their own future. We campaign for an end to the Chinese occupation of Tibet and for the fundamental human rights of Tibetans to be respected.

For further information please contact Stephanie Brigden

E: stephanie@freetibet.org

T: +44 (0)20 7324 4605

M: +44 (0)7854 114 444