Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart on forced and coercive abortions in China.

We are aware of reports of forced abortions and forced sterilisation in Xinjiang, and we regularly raise the situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities at the highest levels. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary did so with the Vice President of China on 5 May 2023.

The UK Government has led international efforts to hold China to account; on 31 October 2022, concerted UK lobbying efforts helped secure the support of a record 50 countries for a joint statement on China's human rights violations in Xinjiang. We will continue to act with international partners to bring about a change in China's actions, and immediately end its appalling human rights violations in Xinjiang.