This is quite oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy.
Resolution: | A full reset of relations with China |
---|---|
Proposer: | Scottish Young Greens |
Status: | Rejected |
Submitted: | 05/17/2022, 15:26 |
Resolution: | A full reset of relations with China |
---|---|
Proposer: | Scottish Young Greens |
Status: | Rejected |
Submitted: | 05/17/2022, 15:26 |
Despite the lofty promises of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in its conception, it has become clear that the BRI has largely become a manoeuvre of the PRC to expand its control to the rest of the world. The BRI has become the avenue of the PRC to exercise debt trap diplomacy on less economically developed countries, from Sri Lanka to Greece.
Note: the resolution was drafted with support of the Taipei Representative
Office in the Netherlands.
The current state of political affairs has made it immeasurably clear the
importance of international solidarity in the enforcement of international law
and the right to sovereignty and self-determination of peoples. Now more than
ever must we uphold the protection of human rights and the principles of
democracy and international rule of law, condemning the oppression, subjugation
and bullying that global superpowers exert unto their own peoples and on smaller
states.
The People’s Republic of China’s (hereinafter PRC) authoritarianism continues to
remain unabated as reports of abuses, if not atrocities, committed by the state
grow.
The crimes against humanity and genocide of Uyghurs.
Over a million Uyghurs remain arbitrarily detained in internment camps, wherein
they are subjugated to forced labour, systematic sexual abuse and rape, and
torture; a further number of at least 600.000 Uyghurs have been forcefully
relocated under the PRC’s forced labour system. The Uyghurs are also subject to
extreme restrictions on freedom of religion and expression and the erasure of
their religious, ethnic and cultural identity, as the state has systematically
destroyed Muslim buildings including mosques and cemeteries, banned religious
practices and forced renunciations of faith, forced the separation of Uyghur
children for re-education, and brainwashing. It is now beyond reasonable doubt
that the PRC has implemented policies including mass forced sterilisations,
forced contraception, and forced abortions. Reports have also surfaced of forced
medical experimentation and mass deaths in camps.
It is thus clear that this is no longer simply a situation of cultural genocide,
but of crimes against humanity, including torture, and of genocide committed
against Uyghurs according to the definitions provided for respectively in
Article 7(1) of the 1998 Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal
Court, the 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Article II of the 1948
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Similarly
there has been a clear breach of the right to (internal) self-determination of
the Uyghurs.
The right to self-determination, prohibition of crimes against humanity, torture
and genocide are ius cogens (peremptory) norms under customary international
law, and thus binding regardless of the PRC’s reservations; as well as erga
omnes obligations (owed to the international community as a whole) that fall
under universal jurisdiction. Although the ICC does not exercise jurisdiction
over PRC territory, the Court has held that “the Court may exercise jurisdiction
over crimes when part of the criminal conduct takes place on the territory of a
State Party”.
The formal recognition of the situation in PRC as a genocide is therefore of
significant legal importance as the first step to holding the PRC accountable.
PRC neo-imperialism.
Despite the lofty promises of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in its
conception, it has become clear that the BRI has largely become a manoeuvre of
the PRC to expand its control to the rest of the world. The BRI has become the
avenue of the PRC to exercise debt trap diplomacy on less economically developed
countries, from Sri Lanka to Greece.
The PRC has further continued to increase military tensions and aggression
toward its neighbouring states, from its military interventions at the China-
India border to the ever increasing military pressure in the South China Sea.
The PRC has furthermore continued to exert pressure on any opposition abroad,
from its threats against Lithuania for establishing the Taiwanese Representative
Office, to sanctions of officials of states that criticise it.
The isolation of the Republic of China.
Despite the Republic of China (ROC, hereinafter Taiwan) fulfilling the criteria
of a state according to Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention of 1933, the
people of Taiwan are prevented from exercising their right to self-determination
and self-sovereignty by the PRC. Taiwan is also significantly limited in
meaningfully participating as a sovereign state within the international
political order, as it is prevented from membership or attendance of most
international organisations.
As a result of the PRC’s One-China principle, all states are forced to choose
between the PRC or Taiwan, as formal diplomatic relations with the PRC is
contingent on the severing of any formal relationship with Taiwan and therefore
the non-recognition of the Taiwanese government.
Furthermore, China has significantly intensified their aggression against Taiwan
and military pressure across the border over the past decade, going as far as
sending warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence zone. The PRC has also threatened
military action against any independence attempts of Taiwan, and throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic has continued to block Taiwan’s membership of WHO. Based on
the ICJ Wall Advisory Opinion 2004 and Reference Re Secession of Quebec, it
could be argued that the increased aggression and militarisation and
international isolation indicate a significant breach of the meaningful exercise
of the right to self-determination of the people of Taiwan.
A full reset.
The EU needs to re-evaluate its ties with China. We need a full reset of EU-
China relations – deviating from a focus of maximalising economic gain to
maximalising the respect for human rights, democracy, international law and the
international rule of law.
The Federation of Young European Greens reiterates R06 Standing up the Chinese
Authoritarianism of the 2020 General Assembly, and with regards to the crimes
against humanity and genocide of the Uyghurs, calls on the European Union and
the governments of Member States:
With regards to the neo-imperialism of the PRC, calls on the European Union and
the governments of Member States:
With regards to the isolation of the Republic of China, calls on the European
Union and the governments of Member States:
This is quite oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy.