D66 wants clarification on the visit of the Vice President of China. Today the king and prime minister Rutte will receive Han Zheng, the right-hand man of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Han Zheng was involved in the crackdown in Hong Kong at the time of the massive protests in 2019. That’s why D66 has serious doubts about his visit to the Netherlands.
Q66 Member of Parliament Alexander Hammelburg also points out the “genocide” that China is committing against the Uyghurs. “We are talking about a country that commits genocide, intimidates Dutch Chinese in the Netherlands, steals trade secrets from Dutch companies, spies on and oppresses its own people.”
“It’s about the signal you give to the outside world and its symbolism”
During the Chinese vice president’s visit, the deputy makes a comparison with the beer the king once drank with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It happened a month before Russia invaded a neighboring country. So this is not the way we should deal with China.’
Diplomacy speeches
That’s why Hammelburg wants the issues discussed with China. ‘They are welcome for a diplomatic conversation, a solid conversation about human rights and intimidation, including against Taiwan. Not in the palace with the king, but only with the foreign minister at the ministry».
Hammelburg is particularly concerned about the symbolism of the visit. ‘We are certain that if we ask the minister and the prime minister what they are discussing, they will mention human rights. But this is not the point. It is about the signal you give to the outside world and its symbolism. That our king gets a vice president who is partly responsible and mainly responsible for some of the awful things I just mentioned. This is really a wrong impression.’
‘Let’s give a clear signal from the House that this is no longer possible’
The MP does not assume that his questions will lead to change. ‘Prevention is no longer possible. But we will question the cabinet and ask for a debate. So let’s send a clear signal from the Chamber that this is no longer possible.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
