On 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China

B100429/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China

(2025/2906(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in China,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its RoP,

whereas Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, is known as publisher and co-owner of Mighty Current publishing house in Hong Kong, whereas Gui Minhai was abducted in Thailand in October 2015 and subsequently detained in China;

whereas Gui Minhai has published books critical of the Chinese Communist Party leadership and the private lives of high-ranking officials;

whereas in February 2020, a Chinese court sentenced Gui Minhai to ten years in prison on charges of “illegally providing intelligence abroad”, after a secret and unfair trial; whereas he has been denied proper legal representation and access to Swedish consular services, in violation of China’s obligations under international law;

whereas Gui Minhai continues to be denied family contact and consular access, raising serious concerns about his health condition after a decade of detention;

whereas the detention of an EU citizen for the peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms undermines mutual trust and damages EU-China relations;

Marks with deep concern the tenth anniversary of the abduction and detention of Gui Minhai, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of his arbitrary arrest, detention and sentencing;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Gui Minhai and for his safe return to Sweden to reunite with his family;

Stresses that the denial of consular access to Gui Minhai constitutes a violation of China’s obligations under the Vienna Convention; urges Chinese authorities to guarantee full, unrestricted consular visits without delay;

stresses that this case exemplifies the pattern of systemic and transnational repression, censorship and violations of fundamental freedoms in China, including against lawyers, journalists, artists, human rights defenders, ethnic and religious minorities, and foreign citizens;

4 bis Is concerned about China’s use of cross-border repression urges the Member States to suspend extradition agreements with the PRC;

Condemns the lack of due process and transparency in Gui Minhai’s trial, which falls far short of international standards on fair trials;

Reiterates that freedom of expression, including press freedom and the right to publish, is a fundamental human right, and calls on China to end censorship, harassment and intimidation of publishers, writers, journalists and academics;

Expresses serious concern about Gui Minhai’s health and treatment in detention, and calls on the Chinese authorities to allow immediate access to independent medical care of his own choosing;

Urges the Chinese authorities to end the practice of arbitrary detention and forced confessions, and to immediately release all those detained for exercising fundamental freedoms, including lawyers, journalists, artists, minority representatives and human rights defenders;

Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to urge for Gui Minhai’s release and continue raising his case at all levels of EU-China relations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, EEAS, Member States, the government and parliament of the PRC.