Taoiseach and Tánaiste must use meeting with Chinese foreign minister as an opportunity to discuss human rights concerns – Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has today urged Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris to raise human rights concerns during their talks today with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Teachta Ó Laoghaire said:

“While it is crucial that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste explore trade and economic issues with China – a country Ireland has significant economic links with, it is important that their meeting does not neglect to raise issues of Human Rights in China.

“China is now Ireland’s largest trading partner in the Asia Pacific region and we recognise it is important that Ireland works to grow trade ties and strengthen relations between Ireland and China.

“However our trading relationship must also be in the context of a respect for human rights, so it is also very important that when the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste meet with the foreign minister, that they raise the human rights concerns and adopt a human-rights based approach in their discussions with the Chinese Foreign Minister. In particular the issues relating to the treatment of the Uyghur People in Xinjiang.

“We have seen these concerns raised by multilateral institutions such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2022. Representatives of the Uyghur minority have spoken out regarding their concerns of large scale incarceration and persecution.

“Diplomatic ties and economic growth should be built on a commitment to uphold human rights and I urge the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to take leadership here in today’s meeting with Mr Yi and to raise human rights concerns with the Foreign Minister during today’s talks.”