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9(b) B4-0830, 0847, 0855, 0862 and 0872/97

Resolution on the European Union's position on the promotion of human rights in the People's Republic of China

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article J.l(2) of the Treaty of European Union and Article 130u of the EC Treaty, which establish the promotion of human rights as an objective of the CFSP,

- having regard to its resolution of 20 February 1997 on the 53rd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights(1),

- having regard to its resolution of 12 June 1997 on the Communication from the Commission on a long-term policy for China-Europe relations(2),

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the People's Republic of China,

A. whereas the dialogue on human rights established in 1994 between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the EU Council's Troika was suspended unilaterally by the People's Republic of China,

B. whereas the final Act of the Vienna Human Rights Conference (July 1993) reaffirmed the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights,

C. whereas the People's Republic of China has continued to tighten controls on freedom of expression and to persecute political dissidents and labour activists through arrest, conviction, and in some cases torture and execution,

D. whereas Wei Jingsheng, winner of the 1996 Sakharov Prize, has been subject to severe beatings while in prison and has been denied medical attention,

E. whereas persecution on the grounds of religious belief, involving the arrest and torture of religious leaders and others, persists in Tibet and Xinjiang,

F. whereas the much publicized legal reform, which removed the crime of 'counter- revolution', has simply resulted in its being replaced by an equally vague charge of 'endangering state security',

G. whereas the Treaty on European Union establishes the promotion of human rights as an objective of Common Foreign and Security Policy, and whereas the General Affairs Council on 4 December 1995 stated that the basic goals of the EU in relations with the People's Republic of China are, inter alia, "the promotion of democracy, structures based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights",

H. whereas the Council and the Member States were unable to defend a joint position on the issue of human rights violations in China at the last session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva,

I. whereas a commitment to human rights must not be subordinate to a short-sighted perception of commercial interests,

J. noting that China 'no longer requires that the EU should enter into a commitment concerning its attitude at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva before resuming with the EU the dialogue on human rights suspended since 1996' and the declaration of the President-in-Office of the Council that the tabling of a new resolution in 1998 'therefore remains open',

1. Welcomes the attempts by Member States to reestablish a human rights dialogue with the People's Republic of China in order to encourage the improvement of human rights conditions and respect for the rule of law;

2. Calls on the Member States to harmonise their political approach towards the People's Republic of China, with a view to speaking with one voice on the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China during the next meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1998, and jointly sponsor a resolution on the People's Republic of China at the next session of the UN Commission on Human Rights;

3. Calls on the People's Republic of China to accede to the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and welcomes its stated intention to sign the latter;

4. Calls on the People's Republic of China to allow full access of international human rights organizations to the People's Republic of China, and to allow the attendance of international observers at political trials;

5. Urges the Chinese Government to review the cases of all those convicted under the now repealed laws of "counter-revolution";

6. Calls on the Chinese authorities to allow international medical assistance to prisoners with grave health problems, and to consider favourably the release of prisoners on medical grounds;

7. Reiterates its call for the release of Sakharov Prize laureate Wei Jingsheng;

8. Requests the Council Presidency to submit regularly to Parliament a written report on its activities as regards the promotion of human rights in the People's Republic of China;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese National People's Congress.

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1 - OJ C 85, 17.3.1997, p. 143.

2- Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 10.

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