Swiss to get tougher on China human rights, says minister
Switzerland is concerned about the shrinking democratic space in Hong Kong. It has also stopped a planned defence delivery by Swiss company Ruag.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis has criticised China over Hong Kong and minority rights but says the country must be treated with respect.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jc
العربية
ar
وزير الخارجية: “على السويسريين أن يكونوا أكثر صرامة فيما يتعلق بحقوق الإنسان في الصين”
Commenting on Switzerland’s new China strategy unveiled on Friday, Cassis told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper that Bern would be more critical on human rights and that this represented a policy shift. He said “things are now called by name” and that tackling human rights was no longer an exclusive task of the foreign ministry but of the entire government.
Cantons, cities, science and business can also make a contribution to the protection of fundamental rights, Cassis told the paper. “With the involvement of all actors we hope to have a greater persuasive force on the issue of human rights.”
Asked about China’s Hong Kong policy, the foreign minister said Switzerland was concerned about the shrinking of democratic rights. On the issue of human rights abuses against China’s Uighurs, he replied that it was a clear violation of minority rights and that Switzerland has made its concerns clear to Beijing.
Defence deal blocked
Meanwhile, the federal government has banned state-owned defence firm Ruag from supplying ammunition to the Hong Kong police, reports the SonntagsBlick newspaper. The company had planned to supply cartridges mainly used for military sniper rifles, but an oversight group from different government departments has decided that there is too great a risk of this ammunition being used against civilians.
Hong Kong security forces have clamped down on a wave of pro-democracy protests as China tightened its grip on the former British colony.
More
More
What Switzerland can do about the US-China rivalry
This content was published on
Rising tensions between the two powers pose a challenge to smaller countries on the sidelines that want to avoid getting caught in the middle.
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
This content was published on
Around 50 caravans belonging to members of a travelling community attempting to enter canton Valais in southern Switzerland without prior warning were blocked by police.
Swiss consumer spending rises in March despite tariff uncertainties
This content was published on
Global financial turmoil and uncertainties surrounding trade tariffs have not yet had an impact on consumer behaviour in Switzerland, where spending rose strongly in March.
Swiss road safety group warns of e-scooter dangers
This content was published on
Accidents involving electric scooters often result in injuries to the head, face or upper body, the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention BFU warns.
This content was published on
The number of eggs consumed in Switzerland last year smashed the annual record, according to the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG).
This content was published on
Switzerland emitted 40.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2023, 1 million tonnes less than the previous year. Overall, emissions were 26% lower than in 1990.
Swiss soldiers take part in military exercise in Austria
This content was published on
The Swiss army has organised a military exercise in Austria, involving 1,000 militia soldiers. The aim is to strengthen the country's defence capability.
Switzerland records below-average number of avalanche deaths
This content was published on
Ten people died in avalanches in the Swiss Alps last winter, according to the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF). This is below the average for the past 20 years.
This content was published on
The Swiss population is expected to grow to 10.5 million by 2055, mainly due to immigration, according to the latest forecast by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
WMO climate report: warmest year and record rainfall in Europe in 2024
This content was published on
Europe faced a stark east-west climate divide last year: it was too wet in the west and too dry in the east, according to a new report.
Trump tariffs: 95% of Swiss SMEs don’t plan to move to US
This content was published on
According to a survey, 95% of small and medium-sized industrial companies (SMEs) in Switzerland are not planning to relocate to the United States in the near future.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland unveils its first China strategy
This content was published on
The Swiss government says its first ever China strategy is intended to create “greater coherence" in its relations with Beijing.
Swiss signal more criticism of China but no changes to trade policy
This content was published on
The Swiss government appears more concerned about the human rights situation in China, but it has no plans to distance itself from the country.
Why a controversial Chinese-Swiss agreement has been left to expire
This content was published on
The Swiss have put on hold a deal to identify Chinese nationals but questions about the nature of the arrangement continue to dog authorities.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.