Foreign Policy

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Questions (104)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

104. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has assessed the extraterritorial provisions of China's law on the promotion of ethnic unity and progress, adopted on 12 March 2026; if her Department shares the concerns raised in the European Parliament resolution of 30 April 2026 regarding the law's potential to enable transnational repression; if any assessment has been carried out on the risk this law poses to individuals residing in Ireland, in light of the 2022 closure of an unauthorised Chinese overseas police station on Capel Street, Dublin; if the Department will review extradition arrangements with China in response to this legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53846/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and we regularly raise concerns with the Chinese authorities in bilateral meetings and in the appropriate multilateral fora, including with regard to the treatment of ethnic minorities.

My Department has been following developments relating to China’s new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress since the draft was introduced in the National People’s Congress in September 2025 and throughout the legislative process to its enactment on 1 July. At the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in June 2026, Ireland supported an EU statement, which underlined concerns about this new law and the potentially extraterritorial effects. The statement also urged China to respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and other persons belonging to national or ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities across China.

Ireland regularly supports efforts by the EU to highlight the particularly vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities, including through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which last took place in June 2025.

For individuals residing in Ireland, any unlawful coercion, threat or harassment that occurs within the State should be reported to An Garda Síochána.

Ireland has no bilateral extradition treaty with China. A bilateral extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended in October 2020.