Statement on the Opening of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
The opening of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) once again reveals the determination of Xi Jinping and the CCP to consolidate its authoritarian rule over the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Xi’s anticipated extension of a third term in power is a clear signal that the CCP has no intention of moderating its belligerent policies at home or abroad. The CCP under Xi’s leadership has perpetrated industrial scale human rights abuses in the Uyghur Region, violated international agreements on Hong Kong’s autonomy and provided tacit support to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine while ramping up military threats against Taiwan. The PRC government after the 20th National Congress will continue to be a threat to human rights and the peace and stability of the international rules based order.
Xi’s re-selection will also see a concentration of power not seen since the Mao era, with the CCP’s authoritarian rule transformed into a personal dictatorship. By securing a third term, the CCP has given licence for Xi to continue his repressive political agenda indefinitely. At this pivotal moment, IPAC stands in solidarity with the Chinese people, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers and all others who have endured the CCP’s oppression and have had no say in choosing their leaders.
As the CCP shows no sign of rolling back on its oppressive policies, IPAC urges democratic states to renew their efforts to safeguard human rights, democracy and the international rules based order. IPAC calls urgent action, including:
- Sanctions on PRC government officials responsible for human rights violations in the Uyghur Region, Tibet, Hong Kong and elsewhere in the PRC.
- Audits of supply chains dependency on the PRC, with a view to building diverse and resilient supply chains that are untainted by forced labour abuses.
- Increasing political and economic engagement with Taiwan, including through bilateral and multilateral trade and investment deals.
- Repealing extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong, to protect diasporic groups at risk of the PRC’s transnational repression.
Ann-Sofie Alm MP, Sweden
Lord (David) Alton, United Kingdom
Katarina Ammitzbøll MP, Denmark
Lord (James) Bethell, United Kingdom
Michael Brand MdB, Germany
Reinhard Bütikofer MEP, European Union
Senator Malcolm Byrne, Ireland
Viola von Cramon-Taubadel MEP, European Union
Judith Cummins MP, United Kingdom
Georges Dallemagne MP, Belgium
Rt Hon Sir Iain Ducan Smith MP, United Kingdom
Uffe Elbæk MP, Denmark
Joar Forssell MP, Sweden
Anna Fotyga MEP, European Union
Senator Pavel Fischer, Czechia
Representative Mike Gallagher, United States
Senator André Gattolin, France
Guri Melby MP, Norway
Avdullah Hoti MP, Kosovo
Senator Leo Housakos, Canada
Tom Kmiec MP, Canada
Mykola Kniazhytskyi MP, Ukraine
Bardhyl Kollcaku MP, Albanian
Gyde Jensen MDB, Germany
Elisabet Lann, Sweden
Ingrid Leary MP, New Zealand
Tom van der Lee MP, Netherlands
David Lega MEP, European Union
Tim Loughton MP, United Kingdom
Fredrik Malm MP, Sweden
Lisa Mazzone MP, Switzerland
Hugh McDermott MP, Australia
Senator Michael McDowell, Ireland
Fatmir Mediu MP, Albania
Oleksandr Merezhko MP, Ukraine
Baroness (Catherine) Meyer, United Kingdom
Antonio Miloshoski MP, North Macedonia
Senator David Norris, Ireland
Cassy O’Connor MP, Australia
Simon O’Connor MP, New Zealand
Senator James Paterson, Australia
Žygimantas Pavilionis MP, Lithuania
Dovilė Šakalienė MP, Lithuania
Sjoerd Sjoerdsma MP, Netherlands
Henry Smith MP, United Kingdom
Cătălin Teniță MP, România
Nicolas Walder, Switzerland
Senator Barry Ward, Ireland
Charlie Weimers MEP, European Union