FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VOTES TO RECOGNISE UYGHURS AS VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE: The resolution noted the widespread internment, forced labour and forced sterlization of Uyghurs at the hands of the Chinese government, and declared that such violations amounted to Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide. The text, co-sponsored by IPAC Députée Frédérique Dumas and backed by Constance Le Grip and other IPAC members, was adopted with 169 votes for and one vote against. Reuters. Politico. France 24.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SLAMS HONG KONG MEDIA CRACKDOWN: MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution condemning the Chinese government’s continued encroachment on media freedoms in Hong Kong. The motion, co-authored by IPAC MEPs Reinhard Bütikofer, Miriam Lexmann MEP, Engin Eroglu MEP, Anna Fotyga MEP and others calls on EU member states to introduce lifeboat schemes for fleeing Hong Kongers and review extradition agreements with China and Hong Kong. SCMP.
UK PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR URGENT INVESTIGATION INTO RISK OF UYGHUR GENOCIDE: A motion requesting the UK government begin an urgent assessment of whether Uyghurs are at ‘serious risk’ of genocide, led by IPAC member Nusrat Ghani MP, was passed unanimously in the House of Commons. The debate saw cross-party IPAC MPs warn that the UK risks defaulting on its obligations under the Genocide Convention. SCMP. Debate highlights.
DENMARK JOINS DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT OF BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS: Denmark joins Australia, Belgium, Canada, Lithuania, the UK, USA and others in announcing that government leaders will not attend the 2022 Winter Games over human rights concerns. This follows calls led by IPAC co-chair Uffe Elbaek last month for Danish ministers and the royal family not to attend the games. Meanwhile IPAC Sweden members David Lega MEP, Hampus Hagman MP and Elisabet Lann labelled Sweden’s failure to carry out a diplomatic boycott ‘shameful’, in an article for Jyllands-Posten. Reuters.
IPAC MEMBERS URGE STRONGER SUPPORT FOR LITHUANIA: A letter led by IPAC co-chair Miriam Lexmann and 10 other IPAC MEPs called on EU chiefs to stand with Lithuania or risk facing more coercive measures from the Chinese government, following punitive trade sanctions on Lithuania after the opening of the Taiwan Representative Office in Vilnius. IPAC Australia MP Kevin Andrews called for democratic countries to see the Chinese government’s attempts to coerce Lithuania as a threat to the international rules based order, writing in the Spectator Australia. SCMP.
UK MPs CALL FOR INVESTIGATION INTO IPAC CYBER-ATTACK: IPAC members have urged the UK government to offer more support to groups at risk of Chinese state backed cyber attacks, after the IPAC website was forced offline for several hours earlier this week. This follows the UK security services warning MPs of attempts by Chinese state agents to infiltrate parliament, with IPAC member Lord Alton securing a debate in the House of Lords on the the Chinese government’s ‘United Front’ influence campaign. The Guardian.
