Changes from resolution motion joint to adopted text

The European Parliament,

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

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, publisher and co-owner of the Mighty Current publishing house in Hong Kong, known for publishing works critical of the Chinese leadership, was abducted in Thailand in October 2015 and subsequently detained in China; whereas his abduction was part of a broader crackdown by China against Hong Kong-based publishers;

B. whereas in February 2020, a Chinese court sentenced Gui Minhai to 10 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; whereas his current whereabouts are still unknown;

C. whereas Gui Minhai continues to be denied family contact, raising serious concerns about his state of health after a decade of detention;

1. Reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Gui Minhai; notes with deep concern the forthcoming tenth anniversary of his abduction and detention, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of his abduction, arbitrary arrest, detention and sentencing;

2. Expresses solidarity with Gui Minhai’s family, in particular with his daughter Angela Gui, who continues to advocate tirelessly for his release;

3. Stresses that the denial of consular access to Gui Minhai constitutes a violation of China’s obligations under the Vienna Convention; expresses serious concern about Gui Minhai’s health and treatment in detention; calls on the Chinese authorities to allow him immediate access to independent medical care of his own choosing, as well as unhindered access to his family, a legal representative of his choice and consular officials;

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

5. Underlines that mutual trust and respect for human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, press freedom and the right to publish, should be at the core of EU-China relations;

6. Calls on China to end the censorship, harassment and intimidation of publishers, writers, journalists and academics;

7. 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;

8. Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to continue raising his case at all levels of EU-China relations, ensure the protection of EU citizens abroad, and urge China to release Gui Minhai and provide information on his condition and whereabouts;

9. Strongly urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the EU Member States, and the Government and National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China.