19
Jan
2022
Watch
Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, arrests of journalists, imprisonment of political dissidents, violence and clashes in the streets: The situation in Hong Kong is increasingly worrying. China's behavior increasingly poses a global threat to human rights. What is happening in Hong Kong is unacceptable and the European Union's attitude towards the Chinese is unfortunately subdued. China is using its growing power to silence critics. We would not want Europe to bend because it is facing a global economic giant. The continuous arrest of journalists, called "bad apples", is sinking Hong Kong into a constant state of repression of opinions. Hong Kong, once a bulwark of freedom in Asia and around the world, has plummeted from 18th place in 2002 to 80th place in 2021 in the world's press freedom indicator. The goal of the Chinese communist regime is to accompany the island on Chinese standards. China ranks third out of 180 countries, with more than 120 reporters and bloggers currently detained. The repression of rights in Hong Kong is a problem that we also see in Taiwan, Tibet and other minorities. It is quite clear that statements of condemnation are no longer enough, but instead it is necessary to impose respect for human rights among the conditions of any kind of trade or political agreement between the European Union and China, including through economic sanctions.