# CE2004084EN.01077401.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/774 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/774

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(2004/C 84 E/0871)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0334/04

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 February 2004)

Subject:   The unchanged human rights and democracy situation in China and Hong Kong, the threat to Taiwan and the need for the arms embargo

Subject:

| 1. | Does the Commission agree that the main change for the better in the People's Republic of China since 1989 has been its rapid and often uncontrolled economic growth, which gives rise to the hope that in future the people of China will no longer need to live in poverty? |
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1.

Does the Commission agree that the main change for the better in the People's Republic of China since 1989 has been its rapid and often uncontrolled economic growth, which gives rise to the hope that in future the people of China will no longer need to live in poverty?

| 2. | Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements in the People's Republic of China since 1989 with regard to freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of the press? |
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2.

Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements in the People's Republic of China since 1989 with regard to freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of the press?

| 3. | Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements in the People's Republic of China since 1989 as regards refraining from arresting political dissidents, ending the monopoly on power of a single political party or abolishing the frequently used death penalty? |
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3.

Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements in the People's Republic of China since 1989 as regards refraining from arresting political dissidents, ending the monopoly on power of a single political party or abolishing the frequently used death penalty?

| 4. | Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements since 1989 in the handling of the efforts of the inhabitants of the former British crown colony of Hong Kong, now part of China, towards a fully fledged parliamentary democracy based on the rule of law? |
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4.

Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements since 1989 in the handling of the efforts of the inhabitants of the former British crown colony of Hong Kong, now part of China, towards a fully fledged parliamentary democracy based on the rule of law?

| 5. | Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements since 1989 as regards setting aside plans to conquer the island of Taiwan, which belonged to China only between 1945 and 1949, and whose original population is now opting for lasting independence and neighbourly relations with China? |
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5.

Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements since 1989 as regards setting aside plans to conquer the island of Taiwan, which belonged to China only between 1945 and 1949, and whose original population is now opting for lasting independence and neighbourly relations with China?

| 6. | Is the Commission sure that tragic events involving the power of the State, comparable with the crackdown on the uprising in 1989, could now never happen again? |
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6.

Is the Commission sure that tragic events involving the power of the State, comparable with the crackdown on the uprising in 1989, could now never happen again?

| 7. | Is the Commission prepared to contribute to ensuring that the arms embargo against the People's Republic of China is maintained at the same level for as long as there is no constitutional democracy in that country, obstacles are placed in the path of democracy in Hong Kong and no non-aggression pact is concluded between China and Taiwan? |
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7.

Is the Commission prepared to contribute to ensuring that the arms embargo against the People's Republic of China is maintained at the same level for as long as there is no constitutional democracy in that country, obstacles are placed in the path of democracy in Hong Kong and no non-aggression pact is concluded between China and Taiwan?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2004)

(26 March 2004)

Although acknowledging certain improvements in the situation of Human Rights in China over recent years, the EU remains concerned with the present state of play in many respects and, in particular, in the field of civil and political rights. Most issues mentioned by the Honourable Member have been addressed in the framework of the EU-China dialogue on Human Rights and it is the intention of the EU to proceed soon with an overall assessment of this dialogue. At the same time, the EU has been following — and will continue to follow — closely the situation in Hong Kong and Taiwan. These issues, be they related to the human rights situation in China or of a regional nature, will certainly have to be carefully considered in the discussions on eventually lifting the embargo on arms sales to China.

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