Brussels, 29/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 28 August, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called on the Chinese authorities to release Xu Zhiyong and all the other civil society activists who have been arrested or placed under house arrest for having expressed their opinions, albeit in a pacific manner. Ashton said that the EU is “deeply concerned by the arrest of Dr Xu Zhiyong on 21 August 2013 following his detention on 16 July, as well as by the detention of several other Chinese civil society activists who have in recent months publicly advocated the rule of law, transparency and social justice and campaigned against corruption”.
The EU has also called on the Chinese authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.
Welcoming the new Chinese leadership's announcement that the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the rule of law are political priorities, Ashton has encouraged the Chinese government, on behalf of the 28 member states, to continue its efforts and to implement all necessary measures aimed at achieving those priorities. (CG/transl.jl)