Written question asked by Sarah Champion (Labour) on Thursday, 10 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 September 2026. It was answered by Chris Elmore (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

China: Uyghurs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his department has made of the UK’s obligations under (a) pillar two and (b) pillar three of the UN Responsibility to Protect framework in relation to the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Answer: The UK continues to stand firm on human rights in China, including in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities continue to face persecution and arbitrary detention. We raise our concerns directly at the highest levels, and in international fora such as at the UN Human Rights Council. In a statement on 8 September, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador noted that "China has yet to implement the recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner's Xinjiang Assessment" and that "evidence of violations in Xinjiang and Tibet persists".

Secondary information