34.
Is concerned at the fact that Xinjiang is caught in a vicious circle, given that, on the one
hand, there are violent separatist and extremist groups among the Turkic-speaking
Muslim Uighurs, who do not, however, represent the vast majority, and that, on the
other hand, Beijing, for the sake of stability, is increasingly responding to social unrest
with repression, heightening the presence of its security apparatus in the region,
alienating many Uighurs from Beijing and nourishing anti-Han-Chinese sentiments
among the Uighur population; deplores the marginalisation of Uighur culture in
Xinjiang, including forbidding Uighur civil servants to visit mosques and in some
places to observe Ramadan; calls on the Chinese authorities to make every effort to
develop a genuine dialogue with the Uighur community, and to protect the cultural
identity of the Uighur population; notes with concern the travel restrictions, notably in
Tibet and Xinjiang, that can be imposed upon EU citizens, particularly in the case of
diplomats and journalists; notes that no such restrictions apply to Chinese citizens
(including diplomats and journalists) across EU Member States; strongly urges
therefore that steps be taken to enforce the principle of reciprocity;
35.
Expresses its sympathy and solidarity with the people of Hong Kong in support of
democratic reforms; highlights that Hong Kong’s autonomy is guaranteed by the Basic
Law; holds that the introduction of fully-fledged universal suffrage in the Special
Administrative Region is fully compatible with the ‘One country, two systems’
principle; deplores the fact that the reform of the electoral law for the appointment of
the Chief Executive in Hong Kong could not be completed; expresses its hope that a
new reform process can be started in the near future with the aim of giving the people of
Hong Kong the right to direct universal suffrage in 2017, with a genuine choice
amongst diverse candidates; welcomes the Joint Report of 24 April 2015 of the
European External Action Service and the European Commission to the European
Parliament and the Council: ‘Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Annual
Report 2014’, and supports the EU’s commitment to strengthening democracy,
including the rule of law, independence of the judicial system, fundamental freedoms
and rights, transparency and freedom of information and expression in Hong Kong;
36.
Strongly supports ‘One country, two systems’ as a basis for good relations between the
Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao and mainland China;
37.
Expresses its concern at the recent political and civil unrest in Hong Kong, and calls on
China to abide by its obligations to the people of Hong Kong to preserve their rights and
freedoms, under the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984;
External situation
38.
Notes that since its launch President Xi’s ‘Chinese Dream’ of national rejuvenation
foresees a stronger and more proactive role for China in the world; encourages the
VP/HR to explore the possibilities of developing a common approach to China with the
US wherever this would contribute to advancing EU interests; stresses that China’s
persistent rise as a global power requires a continuous and rapid reconsideration of
Europe’s strategic priorities in its relations with China, as a matter of urgency;
underlines the need for a world power like China to contribute, in a globalised and
interdependent context and in a more active and constructive manner, to confronting
global challenges and regional conflicts and to attaining a multilateral world order that
respects international law, universal values and peace; considers that China should
increasingly take its place among the world’s leading countries, acting according to the
rules set for all;