Protests demand that China be held accountable for human rights abuses despite its climate cooperation

On the fringes of the G20 summit in Rome, a gathering of global legislators has taken place to protest against the presence of Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, and to call for stronger action regarding China’s human rights record. Activists have urged world leaders not to overlook China’s human rights abuses in exchange for its cooperation on climate issues.

Several attendees at the counter-meeting have been barred from traveling to China due to their advocacy against the country’s treatment of ethnic minorities, particularly in Xinjiang.

In a remote address, Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu emphasized that Taiwan is at the forefront of a larger ideological struggle against China’s authoritarian expansionism. He also called for more frequent and high-level freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, highlighting the need for the West to assert its presence in the region.