As we approach the upcoming EU-China Summit in Beijing on July 24, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations, a coalition of civil society organizations including the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has urged the EU to make human rights a central issue in its talks with Chinese officials.

In a joint letter to European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the 17 signatory organizations urge the EU to address China’s deepening human rights crisis with the same resolve it applies to trade and security challenges. The signatories stress that the Chinese government’s repressive policies, are not confined within its borders, but represent a growing threat to human rights globally.

“As the EU marks 50 years of diplomatic ties with China, it must demonstrate that its commitment to human dignity and universal rights is not negotiable,” ICT’s EU Policy Director Vincent Metten said. “Upholding the right of the Tibetan pe...