On the 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China

B100433/2025

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 China,

having regard to the 40th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue held in Brussels on 13 June 2025, during which the EU called for the immediate release of Gui Minhai;

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

whereas Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen of Chinese origin, co-founder of Mighty Current Media and shareholder of the Causeway Bay Bookstore in Hong Kong - known for publishing works critical of the Chinese leadership - was abducted in Pattaya, Thailand, on 17 October 2015;

whereas Gui Minhai has been detained for nearly ten years, with his current whereabouts still unknown;

whereas his fundamental rights have been repeatedly violated, including the denial of family visits, legal representation, and adequate medical care since 2018;

whereas in February 2020, Chinese authorities sentenced Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on politically motivated charges, following a trial which was in clear violation of international standards of due process;

whereas Sweden has repeatedly requested consular access under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which China has consistently denied;

whereas in June 2021, the Swedish Government, after demands from the Swedish Parliament, appointed a commission tasked with investigating cases of Swedish citizens arbitrarily detained abroad, including the serious and concerning case of Gui Minhai;

Reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Gui Minhai, as well as all other publishers and booksellers still detained in China;

Calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately comply with their international obligations and ensure Gui Minhai’s unhindered access to his family, legal representative of his choice, consular officials and adequate medical care;

Expresses profound concerns over his unlawful detention and the lack of transparency with regard to his whereabouts and health; draws attention to widespread concerns that Gui Minhai might be at risk of torture and ill-treatment;

Strongly condemns China’s pattern of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, politically motivated trials, forced confessions, and other severe human rights violations;

Recalls that the independence of writers, publishers, journalists and bloggers must be protected at all times; calls on the Chinese authorities to refrain from all forms of political intimidation and repression against them;

Deplores any restrictions limiting the freedom of expression, including internet censorship, and urges the Chinese Government to halt all attempts at curtailing the free flow of information;

Underlines that EU-China relations must be based on mutual trust, transparency and respect for human rights; insists that Gui Minhai’s case be raised systematically in bilateral and multilateral dialogues;

Expresses solidarity with Gui Minhai’s family, in particular his daughter Angela Gui, who continues to advocate tirelessly for his release;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chief Executive and the Assembly of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.