While UK-China trade agreements are signed in London, Chinese Vice Premier Li wants UK support for an end to the EU trade embargo which limits high technology sales to China which could have a dual military use.

The embargo was put in place as a response to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Although the embargo is now largely symbolic as China has the capability to manufacture its own weapons, the symbolism remains important. China still uses lethal and disproportionate force against civilians, as it did on a grand scale only two years ago in Tibet.

Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said:

“David Cameron and his government seem to have completely forgotten their party’s manifesto commitment to ‘seek a closer engagement with China, while standing firm on human rights’. Not a whisper from Cameron in Beijing in November, save to say this was not the time or place; and now in London, again there is silence.”

The Prime Minister seems to think he can marginalise human rights to the low-profile, ineffectual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue taking place later this week (13-15 January) in London. He used the dialogue to excuse his silence in Beijing, and no doubt will use the same excuse now. However, the dialogue is now in its 14th year and continues to fail the acid test: it manifestly fails to achieve improvements in human rights for people in Tibet and China; it has become a cosmetic, tick-boxing exercise aimed at deflecting domestic criticism of inertia on human rights issues.

Ends

Notes to Editor

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 and interviews please contact Free Tibet’s Director Stephanie Brigden

stephanie@freetibet.org

T: +44 (0)20 7324 4605

M: +44 (0)7971 479515