EU calls on Beijing for 'immediate release' of lawyer Yu Wensheng, a rare position

"We demand the immediate release of Yu Wensheng," said spokeswoman Josep Borrell. Here in Brussels, June 10, 2020. Francisco Seco / Pool via REUTERS

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Three days before an EU-China video conference summit, the EU has taken a rare position on a subject which is nevertheless one of the subjects of dispute with Beijing: human rights. She asked this Friday in Beijing for the "immediate release" of human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng, sentenced to four years in prison. The EU which is seeking its place in the confrontation between the United States and China.

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“  Choose freedom over the tyranny of a rogue state. An indictment against China and a strong incentive to side with the United States camp. It was signed Mike Pompeo in one of his hardest speeches against China this Friday.

The US diplomat put pressure: "  I hope to hear more public statements from Europe about the Chinese challenge.  "

For Mike Pompeo, Europe has been too weak against Beijing for a long time. Medical diplomacy deemed aggressive by China during the height of the coronavirus crisis has in any case left its mark in Europe.

The EU now wants to assert itself on its subjects: human rights by taking up for example the case of Yu Wensheng ; the economy, with this plan presented Wednesday by the EU to protect its companies from unfair competition from foreign groups. 

There is still no question of aligning with Washington, but Europe has obviously decided to harden the tone.

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  • China
  • European Union
  • Justice
  • Human rights

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