Allister speaks out against repression of Christians in China
01 October 2005
DUP MEP Jim Allister used the occasion of a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the EU's trade relations with China to focus attention on the severe persecution to which Christians continue to be subjected in China. Mr Allister called for liberalisation of trade to be linked directly to liberalisation on human rights by the Chinese authorities.
Mr Allister said, "Trade cannot be viewed in isolation. It is not immune from ethical and moral considerations. China needs our trade, the price attached can properly be more than financial. We cannot ignore the widespread abuse of human rights in China, particularly with regard to a harmless but tiny minority, namely practising Christians.
It is wholly unacceptable to have Chinese Christians imprisoned for merely expressing their Christian beliefs or distributing copies of the Bible. Freedom of worship is a fundamental right we in Europe take for granted, its denial in China is not something we can ignore in facilitating trade with the State persecuting Christian people, whatever the mutual economic benefit.
I call therefore for a linkage between the ongoing EU-China bilateral dialogue on human rights and negotiations on trade. We should make progress on trade conditional on progress in securing and improving human rights. Liberalisation of trade requires liberalisation on human rights."
