WRITTEN QUESTION E-0778/02 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Persecution of Christians in China.
Date: 2002-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, cruel and degrading treatment, freedom of religious beliefs, religious discrimination, religious group, right to justice

C 309 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

future of the European project. The Union must review its main functions and define the scope of its
activities more rigorously. In this context, all the institutions must consider the best way of performing
their activities. The Commission is prepared to re-examine its own functions if this is necessary for the
European project to succeed. It follows from this that in his address to the Convention the President of the
Commission was not referring to any specific tasks currently performed by his institution but rather to a
political state of mind. The Commission does not, of course, intend to abandon its fundamental role,
which is that of an independent institution upholding the general interest. Once it has defined its position
on the future of the Union’s institutional structure, it will be up to its representatives in the Convention to
inform the latter accordingly.

(2002/C 309 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0778/02

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 March 2002)

Subject: Persecution of Christians in China

in southern China, members of the South Chinese church have very
Is the Commission aware that,
recently been persecuted and that at least five of its members, namely Gong Shengliang, Hu Yong
(Hu Ling-wei), Xu Fuming (Xu Tong-lao), Li Ying (Li En hui) and Gong Bankun, have been sentenced to
death and at least three members, namely Sun Minghua, Xiao Yanli (Xia Tong Ran) and Yi Chan-fu, have
received long prison sentences?

Is the Commission aware that the arrest and interrogation of members of the South Chinese church were
accompanied by violence and torture?

How will the Commission draw these human rights violations to the attention of the Chinese Government?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

including,
The Commission shares the concern expressed about the situation of Christians in China,
notably, the case of Pastor Gong Shengliang, which has been raised with China in the context of the
Union’s human rights dialogue.

The Union is committed to strengthening respect for human rights everywhere in the world. They
represent a central issue in the Union’s relations with third countries. The Commission is following closely
the human rights situation in China. Religious freedom forms an important part of the Union’s general
concern about human rights in China.

A bilateral dialogue on human rights was established between the Union and China in 1996. The Union
has frank discussions with China in this framework and religious freedom is a key issue. The main
concerns in addition to religious freedom include freedom of expression, freedom of association, repression
of political dissidence, death penalty, ratification and implementation of United Nations Covenants
(including the one on Political and Civil Rights), co-operation with United Nations (Memorandum of
Understanding signed with United Nations now to be implemented), ethnic minorities, and arbitrary
detention conditions.

The human rights situation in China is raised at all levels, including at Summit and Ministerial meetings.
The Commissioner for External Relations raised it with Chinese Ministers on his recent visit.

The Commission will continue to follow closely, and raise with China, the situation of religious freedom in
China, including the situation of individuals such as Pastor Gong.