13/04/2026 (Agence Europe) – In a press release published on Monday 13 April, the European External Action Service (EEAS) welcomed the release of Chinese lawyer Yu Wensheng after three years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power”. The human rights defender was arrested in April 2023 with his wife, Xu Yan, on their way to the EU delegation in Beijing. While the EEAS has taken note of this release, it has nevertheless expressed its grave concern regarding the potential continued surveillance and restrictions against the couple and has urged the Chinese authorities to guarantee the full exercise of their freedoms. More broadly, the EU reaffirmed its call for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all activists “detained and convicted solely for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental rights“ in China, pledging to continue denouncing these violations at future summits. (JM)