Kofler: “Xinjiang is a debate in the Bundestag was an important”

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The Federal government rejects the attempt by China, pressure on German members of Parliament, to exercise clear. At the same time you still relies on the dialogue with China, as the people in charge right Bärbel Kofler explains.

DW: to what Extent were you surprised by the violent Protest of the Chinese side against the Bundestag debate on the topic of re-education camp in Xinjiang?

It is not unusual that China protested against criticism of its human rights policy. This happens in different forms, whether through a protest note or in direct talks. The way this is in the past week happened, from my point of view, however, is impossible. Offices of the Bundestag to call deputies, and put them under a lot of pressure, is not in order. The German Parliament is independent, and can anyone else tell what it discussed and what is not discussed there. We would not do Vice versa also.

In addition, worrying reports of people reach us rights organizations in particular, on the situation of the Uighurs on ill-treatment and torture in illegal Camps, which are often referred to as a re-education camp, or even euphemistically as vocational education and training institutions. The Monitoring of the civilian population by means of cameras, road checks, the house has adopted, searches, control of network-capable electric device and DNA capture in Xinjiang extreme proportions. It was in this respect, an important debate last week in the German Bundestag

Mail and calls from the Chinese Embassy in the office of the Deputy Margarete Bause

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What is the role of the increasing self-consciousness of an Asian great power in this sensitive reaction to criticism?

China is the most populous country and the second largest economy in the world. In this respect, it is not surprising, if China itself demonstrates consciousness. This applies to all policy areas. However, it must be in a rule-based world, we are committed to us than Germany, is also possible, abuses in other countries. Germany, too, must eventually deal with international criticism on human rights issues this year in detail in the periodic review of the human rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva. Here we were also criticized by the Chinese side.

We deal with this to be open to criticism and are willing to lead with other States in a dialogue. This should be a world power. The human rights violations in China also violate the Chinese Constitution and international agreements. A reliable partnership, we can address such violations are clear.

Such an attempt as is now from China, to put pressure on members to exercise that worries you?

Our liberal democratic System is currently facing a number of challenges, Internal and External. Some great countries are trying to rule-based world order and cooperation in international forums such as the United Nations to undermine it. Human rights in the world under attack. China propagated their own understanding of human rights. This makes me quite worry and we must stand together with our foreign partners closely to our values. This is, however, likely to be, in fact, in the future, not easier.

Despite their differences, the dialogue to continue: foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Vice-President Wang Qishan in Beijing

Federal foreign Minister Maas has been criticized in China, the handling of Beijing, with the Muslim minority, the Uighurs. As agreed, the Federal government, the two objectives, on the one hand to improve the Situation of human rights in China, and not to damage on the other hand, the German-Chinese relations?

I am of the opinion that countries, which have historical and cultural ties, must be able to openly discuss their differences of opinion and differences. We will continue to ask critical questions and miss appeal stands directly. The use of human rights serves, I am convinced that the stability and the peace. Everywhere in the world people are demanding their right to freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom from discrimination, etc. These rights creates long-term instability, I am convinced of that.

In all the above-mentioned points, it is very important to me, that there are continue to a regular and close dialogue with the Chinese government. With China, we have such a high-level, the visit of foreign Minister Maas suggests. In such interview formats, we must also continue to be critical points.

In addition, there is the human rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva is the Central Forum for an exchange on human rights issues. We should support and use. In November, China had to face here, like Germany earlier in the spring – the critical questions of the world community, and also of the German Federal government. With China, we also have the Format of the German-Chinese human rights dialogue in which we the people discuss legal problems in Germany and China in detail. The last of these in 2016 took place in Berlin and in my constituency in Traunstein. In this dialogue, we continue to the end of the year now, the Chinese side has invited us to Beijing.