What changed

B100429/2025

B100431/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China

(2025/2906(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in China,China and on the case of Gui Minhai,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its RoP,

– having regard to the EU–China Strategic Partnership, including the commitment to a comprehensive human rights dialogue,

whereas Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, is known as publisher and co-owner of Mighty Current publishing house in Hong Kong, whereas Gui Minhai was abducted in Thailand in October 2015 and subsequently detained in China;

– having regard to Rule 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Gui Minhai has published books critical of the Chinese Communist Party leadership and the private lives of high-ranking officials;

A. whereas Gui Minhai, a Swedish publisher and EU citizen, was abducted in Thailand in 2015 in an act of extraordinary rendition, subsequently forced to deliver public confessions, and later subjected to a closed trial in China on politically motivated and unsubstantiated charges;

whereas in February 2020, a Chinese court sentenced Gui Minhai to ten years in prison on charges of “illegally providing intelligence abroad”, after a secret and unfair trial; whereas he has been denied proper legal representation and access to Swedish consular services, in violation of China’s obligations under international law;

B. whereas Gui Minhai remains arbitrarily detained, deprived of his liberty, denied full consular access, and his whereabouts remain unclear;

whereas Gui Minhai continues to be denied family contact and consular access, raising serious concerns about his health condition after a decade of detention;

C. whereas the European Parliament recently supported the resumption of inter-parliamentary dialogue with the China and its National People’s Congress, which must also include frank and substantial discussions on human rights and the protection of EU citizens;

whereas the detention of an EU citizen for the peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms undermines mutual trust and damages EU-China relations;

1. Strongly condemns the illegal abduction of Gui Minhai and his continued arbitrary detention on fabricated charges in trial proceedings that violated international due process standards;

Marks with deep concern the tenth anniversary of the abduction and detention of Gui Minhai, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of his arbitrary arrest, detention and sentencing;

2. Denounces the practice of extraordinary renditions, forced televised confessions, and show trials in China, which are contrary to international law and human rights standards;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Gui Minhai and for his safe return to Sweden to reunite with his family;

3. Calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Gui Minhai, to fully respect his rights as EU citizen, and to guarantee him unhindered access to Swedish consular representatives and his family;

Stresses that the denial of consular access to Gui Minhai constitutes a violation of China’s obligations under the Vienna Convention; urges Chinese authorities to guarantee full, unrestricted consular visits without delay;

4. Calls on the Chinese authorities to guarantee Gui Minhai’s right to maintain regular contact with his family and legal representatives, including telephone or video calls, and to ensure his access to timely and adequate medical care by independent health professionals.

stresses that this case exemplifies the pattern of systemic and transnational repression, censorship and violations of fundamental freedoms in China, including against lawyers, journalists, artists, human rights defenders, ethnic and religious minorities, and foreign citizens;

5. Calls on the Swedish government to make Gui Minhai's release a priority in its relations with China and to work with other European countries to press harder for his freedom;

4 bis Is concerned about China’s use of cross-border repression urges the Member States to suspend extradition agreements with the PRC;

6. Urges the Chinese authorities to disclose without delay Gui Minhai’s current place of detention and ensure his safety, health, and dignity;

Condemns the lack of due process and transparency in Gui Minhai’s trial, which falls far short of international standards on fair trials;

7. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all other political prisoners and arbitrarily detained individuals in China, including Ilham Tohti, Go Sherab Gyatso, Xu Na, Wang Yi, Yu Wensheng, Zhang Zhan, and Li Qiaochu;

Reiterates that freedom of expression, including press freedom and the right to publish, is a fundamental human right, and calls on China to end censorship, harassment and intimidation of publishers, writers, journalists and academics;

8. Underlines that the recent decision to resume parliamentary dialogue with the Chinese National People’s Congress must be firmly extended to cover human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of EU citizens abroad;

Expresses serious concern about Gui Minhai’s health and treatment in detention, and calls on the Chinese authorities to allow immediate access to independent medical care of his own choosing;

9. Urges the Commission and EEAS, and EU Member States to continue raising Gui Minhai’s case at all levels of bilateral engagement with China and to intensify pressure through coordinated diplomatic and targeted measures;

Urges the Chinese authorities to end the practice of arbitrary detention and forced confessions, and to immediately release all those detained for exercising fundamental freedoms, including lawyers, journalists, artists, minority representatives and human rights defenders;

10. Reaffirms the need for the EU Delegation in Beijing to actively monitor trials and detention conditions of human rights defenders, including EU citizens, and to consistently demand accountability for abuses;

Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to urge for Gui Minhai’s release and continue raising his case at all levels of EU-China relations;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the EU Member States, and the Government and National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, EEAS, Member States, the government and parliament of the PRC.