As the 24th EU-China Summit approaches on December 7-8 in Beijing, the International Campaign for Tibet calls upon the European Union to prioritize the resolution of the Tibet-China conflict during the discussions. The Summit marks the first in-person meeting between the EU and China since 2019, with Presidents Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell, engaging in separate sessions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

Vincent Metten, ICT’s EU Policy Director, emphasizes the strategic significance of Tibet in the broader Asian context. Metten urges EU leaders to include the unresolved conflict in Tibet and the deteriorating human rights situation of the Tibetan people in the Summit discussions, pressing China to resume the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process.

The situation in Tibet has worsened significantly in recent years, particularly under President Xi Jinping's leadership. Religious and cultural rights, freedom of expression, assembly, association, and social and economic rights are extensively restricted. Aggressive "Sinification" policies, such as the boarding school system separating over 1 million Tibetan children from their families, pose a threat to Tibetan culture and identity.

The European Council's June 30 conclusions reiterated concerns about China's human rights abuses, including the situation in Tibet. Last month, the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee condemned Chinese assimilationist policies in Tibet. The EU-China Summit presents a crucial opportunity to address these concerns and push for a change in China's approach.

In a global context marked by escalating violence, the EU’s endorsement of the Tibetan people's nonviolent struggle for human rights gains critical importance. As conflicts intensify globally, championing peaceful advocacy becomes imperative. The Tibetan commitment to nonviolence serves as a powerful example, and the EU's support not only upholds human rights principles but also promotes peace and stability in the strategic Inner Asian region, amidst rising tensions affecting Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Himalayan region.