EN E-004913/2016 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini (18.10.2016) China’s first Counter-Terrorism Law came into effect in January 2016. There were two public consultations on the text prior to adoption, where the EU submitted detailed comments. However, only a few of the EU's comments were taken into account. The final text maintained a number of controversial provisions and introduced factors of uncertainty for civil society, media and economic operators. The definition of terrorism in the law is vague and could be used to persecute groups or individuals, including from ethnic and religious minorities, who refuse to adhere to state political and socio-economic policies. This could constitute a threat to human rights in China, not only for the Tibetan minority but also for the ethnic and religious minorities in the Xinjiang province. The EU expressed its concerns on the final text, but received no formal response from the Chinese authorities. The VP/HR also expressed the EU's concerns in her meeting with Mr Meng Jianzhu, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC, in May 2016; highlighting particularly the EU's concerns on the definition of terrorism included in the law and underlining the need to adhere to international law. During the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue (HRD) that took place in November 2015, the EU asked about measures intended to address deep-rooted grievances in Tibet, including the lack of freedom to practice their own religion and culture. The next HRD is scheduled to take place before the end of 2016.