To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the arrests and detentions of (a) Pastor Wang Yi and (b) Mrs Jiang Rong.
Answered on
12 February 2020
British diplomats met with Chinese officials in January 2019, to express concern about the pressures facing Christians in China, and directly raised Pastor Wang's case. Reports suggest Jiang Rong was released in June 2019, after six months imprisonment. We have not raised her case directly with the Chinese authorities. On 2 January, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad issued a statement expressing serious concerns about the recent sentencing of Pastor Wang Yi to nine years in prison following a secret trial and called on China to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by China's constitution and international law. The freedom to practice, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy.