Members of the Hong Kong and Uyghur communities in Ireland have called on the Irish government to address China’s transnational repression and human rights violations during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Dublin.
Wang, who is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo, arrived in Ireland after attending the Munich Security Conference, where he met with top European leaders. He is scheduled to hold discussions with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, The Irish Times reported.
In a joint statement, organizations representing Uyghurs and Hongkongers in Ireland urged the government to take concrete action against China’s repression, including allegations of genocide, politically motivated imprisonment, and harassment of diaspora communities.
The groups raised concerns over Chinese government surveillance and intimidation of dissidents on Irish soil, warning that these activities pose a direct threat to Ireland’s national security.
“We do not feel we can openly exercise our right to protest for fear of retribution by the regime—whether against our family members back home, within Ireland itself, or by losing our chance to visit our homelands,” the statement read, as quoted by The Irish Times.
They highlighted that the European Union has acknowledged China’s pattern of transnational repression, particularly targeting Tibetan, Taiwanese, Hongkonger, and Uyghur communities.
The statement also referenced a recent case where Hong Kong authorities detained the relatives of an exiled activist to punish her for participating in a legal protest in London. Such incidents, the groups said, have created a climate of fear among diasporic Hongkongers in Ireland and beyond.
The European Hong Kong Diaspora Alliance, the Irish Uyghur Cultural Association, and Stand With Hong Kong urged the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to raise these concerns with Wang, emphasizing that diplomatic ties and economic relations should not come at the cost of fundamental freedoms.
“People in Ireland have a right to live free from fear,” the statement added.
Wang Yi’s visit marks the second high-profile Chinese delegation to Ireland in just over a year, following Premier Li Qiang’s trip in January 2024.
China’s foreign ministry, announcing the visit last week, described Ireland as a “strategic partner for mutually beneficial cooperation,” saying that bilateral ties have maintained “sound growth momentum.”
(Inputs from ANI)