Government responds to questions about the detention of Uyghur children in boarding schools in Xinjiang, and the alleged cultural genocide perpetrated by the government of China through the forced assimilation of Uyghur and Kazakh children. They say “We stand firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities.”

Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL863):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential implications for the UK’s relationship with China of (1) the detention of Uyghur children in boarding schools in Xinjiang, and (2) the alleged cultural genocide perpetrated by the government of China through the forced assimilation of Uyghur and Kazakh children; and what diplomatic actions are being taken to address these concerns. (HL863)

Tabled on: 09 September 2024

Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:

This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests.

We stand firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities. We raise our concerns at the highest levels of the Chinese government. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary both raised human rights in their recent introductory discussions with President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang.

Date and time of answer: 24 Sep 2024 at 12:55.