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.