EU Urged to Prioritize Human Rights in China Policy
The EU’s China Policy Should Center Human Rights

Image: Human Rights Watch
As EU officials prepare for discussions on China's influence, human rights issues must be prioritized due to China's increasing repression and its implications for European security and economic stability. A coordinated strategy integrating human rights into EU policies is essential to mitigate risks and counter abusive practices.
- 01The Chinese government has intensified repression since Xi Jinping's rise to power in 2013, impacting human rights both domestically and internationally.
- 02China's support for Russia's war against Ukraine illustrates the security risks associated with ignoring human rights violations.
- 03China's economic practices, characterized by low rights and forced labor, contribute to job losses in Europe and undermine labor rights globally.
- 04The EU has initiated measures like forced labor regulations, but these are seen as insufficient to address the scale of abuses.
- 05A unified EU strategy that incorporates human rights into all policies is necessary to effectively respond to China's coercive actions.
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As European Union (EU) commissioners gear up for their April 29 meeting on security in relation to China's influence, the focus should shift to human rights concerns. The Chinese government's increasing repression, both domestically and abroad, poses significant risks to individual rights and to Europe's long-term security and economic stability. Since Xi Jinping's ascension in 2013, there has been a notable tightening of ideological control and severe abuses against ethnic and religious minorities, including state-imposed forced labor. Furthermore, China's support for Russia's aggression in Ukraine highlights the risks of neglecting human rights, as evidenced by Human Rights Watch's report on Chinese drones being used to target civilians in the conflict. Economically, China's low-rights political economy has led to artificially cheap exports, undermining labor rights globally and causing job losses in Europe. While the EU has begun to implement measures such as forced labor regulations, these efforts are inadequate. A more robust strategy is needed, one that embeds human rights into economic and foreign policies, to effectively counter China's abusive practices and ensure European security.
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The EU's human rights policies directly affect its economic stability and security, as they aim to mitigate risks associated with China's practices.
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