Written question asked by Navendu Mishra (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 January 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 January 2023. It was answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Conservative) on Wednesday, 1 February 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Tibet: Culture and Languages

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of Chinese policy on minorities on Tibetan (a) language and (b) culture.

Answer: We closely monitor the human rights situation in Tibet, including reports of the erosion of Tibetan language and culture. We continue to urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the People's Republic of China, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. In June 2022, a concerted UK lobbying effort helped to secure the support of a record 47 countries for a statement at the Human Rights Council that urged China to comply with its obligations with regard to the protection of human rights, including in Tibet. We also continue to press the Chinese authorities to respect religious and cultural freedoms and allow unrestricted access to Tibet for international journalists, NGOs and diplomats.

Secondary information