The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) urgently appeals to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to bring the human rights situation in Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong, South Mongolia and China itself to the attention of the Chinese Government. The Federal President’s talks with the Chinese political leadership were announced for the state visit to the People’s Republic, which is scheduled to take place from 26 to 31 October.
[Original in German. Automated translation with minimal edits.]
On his trip to China, the Federal President must under no circumstances defer human rights and democratic values in the sense of alleged realpolitik and economic interests. He should clearly identify human rights violations and also call for an end to the ruthless assimilation policy of the Chinese government, which is massively directed against the language, religion and culture of Tibetans and others. Under no circumstances must the Federal President normalise autocracy and dictatorship by giving the impression that this is a state visit to a normal country. This impression can arise when the visitor programme talks about ‘conversations with civil society’, but this cannot happen in China, explained ICT Managing Director Kai Müller.
“It would be desirable for Frank-Walter Steinmeier above all to take a clear stand against the Chinese law on ethnic unity and progress, which came into force on 1 July and with which the Communist Party has further cemented and tightened its strategy of forced assimilation of Tibetans, Uyghurs and others,” Müller continued.
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