MEP criticizes China’s human rights record, calls Taiwan beacon of hope

The Netherland’s Bastiaan Belder said China’s human rights situation is appalling and the EU should demand progress and results

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/05/29
By: Yu-ning Hsu, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Bastiaan “Bas” Belder told Taiwan News on Thursday (May 29) that Taiwan is a democratic beacon to China.

“It is important that the future of Taiwan should depend on the political will of the inhabitants of Taiwan,” said Belder. He hopes that China can one day be a country like Taiwan, where democracy and freedom are upheld.

Belder has submitted four reports on EU-China relations to Parliament. In September 2018, it adopted Belder’s report strongly criticizing China’s appalling human rights record.

The report pointed out the situation in Xinjiang and Tibet had deteriorated tremendously after President Xi Jinping (習近平) took power. “The report touches on all aspects of the EU-China relationship,” said Belder. “The responsibilities to implement [the report] are great.”    [FULL STORY]