Government responds to questions about trade with China – a country credibly accused of Genocide – and says no decision has been made about the resumption of JETCO talks.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL10607):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of China that they recommit to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, remove sanctions on UK parliamentarians, release the more than a million incarcerated Uyghurs, and commit to non-interference with UK democracy, in advance of the resumption of JETCO talks. (HL10607)

Tabled on: 17 October 2023

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

1. To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) China’s compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, in particular any infringement on the autonomy of Hong Kong, (2) the treatment of the Uyghurs in China and whether this amounts to genocide, (3) the sanctioning of UK parliamentarians by China, and (4) allegations of intelligence operatives placed by the government of China in the UK Parliament; and whether they have considered any such assessment before deciding on a resumption of JETCO talks. (HL10606)
   Tabled on: 17 October 2023

Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:

China remains in an ongoing state of non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Hong Kong has retained some economic autonomy however actions by the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, including the imposition of the National Security Law, continue to erode civil and political rights.

On 18 October, the UK led a UN Third Committee joint statement on behalf of 51 countries, urging China to end its human rights violations in Xinjiang. Any judgement as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for judicial decision.

On espionage allegations, it would be inappropriate to comment on the Metropolitan Police’s live investigation.

During his recent visit to China, the Foreign Secretary raised Xinjiang, Hong Kong and made clear that Chinese sanctions against British Parliamentarians are unacceptable and pressed for them to be lifted.

The UK Government has not made any decision on JETCO.

Date and time of answer: 26 Oct 2023 at 11:41.