IPAC LEADS CALLS TO BLOCK FINANCING OF XINJIANG ABUSES: Parliamentarians from the EU, India, UK, Australia and Canada called on their governments to create investment blacklists to block banks from funding firms perpetrating forced labour and other abuses against Uyghurs. The letters, addressed to the respective finance ministers of each legislature, follow revelations that HSBC has traded shares in a subsidiary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Coverage: The Independent.SCMP.Nikkei.ANI News.
EU TAKES UP PRC SANCTIONS ON LITHUANIA AT WTO: The EU has launched a World Trade Organization case against the Chinese government over “discriminatory trade practices” against Lithuania. The move follows calls led by IPAC co-chair Miriam Lexmann MEP for a united EU response to the Chinese government’s violations of WTO rules on Lithuania.
CZECHIA CONFIRMS NO GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AT BEIJING OLYMPICS: The announcement, made by Foreign Minister and former IPAC co-chair Jan Lipavský MP, follows Portugal joining the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics over human rights concerns. Elsewhere, IPAC members were among 50 parliamentarians who published an open letter calling on EU government leaders to decline invitations to attend the games. CT24. Euractiv.
GROWING CONCERN FOR INDIAN CITIZEN IN HANDS OF CHINESE MILITARY: IPAC co-chair Ninong Ering MLA called on the Chinese military to ensure the safe return of Miram Taron to India. The 19-year-old went missing in the Arunachal Pradesh border region and is believed to be found and held by the People’s Liberation Army.
HIKVISION AND DAHUA CAMERAS MONITORING BELGIAN MILITARY INSTITUTIONS: The defence minister confirmed that CCTV cameras made by the Chinese firms are being used at Belgian military sites, in answer to a question from IPAC co-chair Samuel Cogolati MP amidst growing concerns about the potential for Chinese government surveillance. Le Soir.
