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China: Sterilisation

Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UIN 70300, tabled on 7 July 2020

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chinese Government on the alleged practice of forced sterilisations among ethnic minority women in the Xinjiang region in China; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

14 July 2020

We are aware of reports that the Chinese Government is using forced sterilisation to minimise Uyghur birth rates. I set out during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on 29 June, these reports add to our concern about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and we are considering them carefully. On 9 March the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi. On 30 June, the UK read out a statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting concerns about arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions in Xinjiang.

Answered by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office