Thread: In a tense exchange, the three EU leaders at the summit drew Xi’s attention to China’s human rights issues one by one – from Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, bookseller Gui Minhai and Canadians Kovrig and Spavor sc.mp/gw0ft
Xi hit back, saying “every country should first and foremost care about their own business”, according to Xinhua. “We believe the EU can properly resolve its own human rights problems. China does not accept ‘lectures’ on human rights and is opposed to double standards.”
Reportedly, Xi, at this point, began pointing out human rights issues in Europe, including anti-Semitism. EU leaders reportedly pushed back, saying China’s issues were “systemic”.
Michel then asked Xi to arrange a “field visit” to Tibet for EU officials attending a Human Rights Dialogue in China later this year, while calling for access for independent observers to Xinjiang.
@noahbarkin observers that this marks a new focus on human rights, as these types of sensitive issues would have been only discussed behind closed doors in the past.
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