Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, that is not the truth. I was in China in November. I met Mr. Wang Yi. We had an extended conversation on Xinjiang. Ireland is very concerned about the situation in Xinjiang and about reports of the treatment of ethnic and religious groups in the region. We welcomed the publication in 2022 of the assessment by the then High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding human rights concerns in Xinjiang and called on China to implement its recommendations and the subsequent special procedure’s recommendations. I raised that specific report with Mr. Wang Yi, both in Munich last year and in November, and we had a lengthy discussion on the issue. It was not a “mention” or a “reference” but a lengthy discussion. China robustly refutes the assertions, so it has no issue with discussing them. The idea we just mention them as if we are afraid to do so is not the case. China has its assertive position on all of these issues and we disagree. We were endeavouring to push home Ms Michelle Bachelet’s report. China dismissed that.

What the Deputy described is not in any shape or form a fair, accurate or true depiction of what transpires. Only this week, we again intervened on the Universal Periodic Review.

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