EC Foreign Minister States that there is “No evidence of Falun Gong being a threat to China”

On 17th July, in a reply on behalf of the European Commission to written question E-1969/02EN by Chris Davies, EC Foreign Minister Chris Patten stated, "The Commission is not aware of any evidence that Falun Gong practitioners pose a threat to the stability of China, to the Communist Party, to law and order, or to commerce, in China"

He also stated:" The Commission closely follows the human rights situation in China and is aware of incidents concerning Falun Gong practitioners. The Union has on several occasions undertaken formal demarches to the Chinese authorities, to express concern about reports of torture and ill treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, who have been arrested and the harshness of sentences given to those practitioners.

The Commission has urged China to review such harsh sentences, and to ensure that safeguards for a fair trial, including adequate legal representation, are fully respected for all individuals. It has also called on China to comply with the United Nations human rights covenants it has signed, which include provisions concerning freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.

“A bilateral dialogue on human rights was established between the Union and China in 1996. In this framework the Union has regularly raised – and will continue to raise – individual cases of concern, including those of Falun Gong practitioners. The issue was also raised during the last round of the dialogue in Madrid in April 2002.”