The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has called on Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Westerwelle to demand the release of political prisoners in China when they meet with Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. At the same time the human rights organization appealed to the German government to maintain the EU's weapons embargo against China, even if their high-ranking guest urges an end to the sanctions. Li Keqiang, who will be in Germany from 6 to 9 January 2011, is said to be a likely candidate for Prime Minister of China, a post that will become available in 2012.

"Primarily in Tibet and in neighing Xinjiang, the human rights situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent months," said Ulrich Delius of the STP's Asia section. "Within just 20 months, the number of Tibetans imprisoned for political reasons has increased 16-fold. In Xinjiang, which is what the Uighurs who live there call East Turkestan, more than a dozen bloggers and journalists have been condemned to long prison sentences."

Currently there are almost 1,700 Tibetans in prison for political reasons. Just last Tuesday it became known that three more Tibetan writers were sentenced in October 2010 to four years in prison for allegedly undermining state authority. On 16 December 2010, the monk Sungrab Gyatso was given a three-year prison sentence because he is said to have organized a demonstration. In Xinjiang, at least 6 editors of Uighur Internet services were sentenced to 15 years in prison after a secret trial. Three Uighur bloggers are serving life sentences. "Internet freedom has become a foreign concept for Uighurs and Tibetans," criticized Delius. "China systematically represses every free expression of opinion made by members of these nationalities on the Internet."

In his meetings with the German government, Li Keqiang is expected to push for the EU to lift the weapons embargo against his country. For years, the Chinese government has been calling for an end to these sanctions, which it regards as unjustifiable. "By buying up debt in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland, Beijing is acquiring more and more influence in the EU and is apparently approaching its goal through these means," said Delius.

Shortly before the new year it became known that Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, presented a confidential memorandum at the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting on 17 December 2010 in which she recommended lifting the sanctions. A unanimous decision by the EU is required before the embargo can be lifted. So far, Germany has always affirmed that the sanctions must be kept in place in view of the dismal human rights situation. "Any weakening now would send the wrong signal to the Chinese rulers, who are trampling the rule of law and human rights under foot."

For further information pleace contact Ulrich Delius: 0049-(0)551-49906-27

Translated by Elizabeth Crawford