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Voting Guide: Standing Up for Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong and Southern Mongolia

A Look at the Dutch Parliament’s Position on China

In 2024 and 2025, the Dutch House of Representatives took a clear stance on the human rights situation of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers and Southern Mongolians. Our coalition, consisting of the Dutch branch of the International Campaign for Tibet, the Tibetan Community Netherlands, Tibet Support Group Netherlands, FreeUyghur Association, the SEOTEC Foundation (Europa East Turkistan Education Centre), the Dutch Uyghur Human Rights Foundation, Netherlands4HongKong, NGO-DEI and the Southern Mongolian Congress Netherlands, consistently brought these issues to the attention of parliament. We highlighted abuses such as forced labour and economic exploitation in the Uyghur region, state control over religion in Tibet, the loss of autonomy in Hong Kong, the suppression of language and education in Southern Mongolia, and the growing security risks posed by Chinese influence and espionage. Since the beginning of 2025, our organisations have actively contributed to parliamentary debate and provided members of parliament with information and recommendations.

With an eye on the elections, below you will find a factual overview of how parties voted on important motions, and how this compares to what they promise in their election manifestos. Voting records show what parties actually do. Election manifestos show what they say they want to do.

Summary per Party on Key Motions (2024-2025)

Legend: ✅ supported, ❌ against

PartyUyghur sanc- tionsImport ban forced labour”East Turk- istan” nameGeno- cide inquiryEU Tibet strat- egyDalai Lama succes- sionHuman rights viola- tionsSpeak out against esca- lationProtect vital infra- struc- ture
Groen Links ‑PvdA✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
D66✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
CDA✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
PvdD✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
DENK✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
SP✅✅❌✅✅✅✅✅✅
CU✅✅❌✅✅✅✅✅✅
Volt✅✅❌✅✅✅✅✅✅
NSC✅✅❌❌❌❌✅✅✅
BBB✅✅❌❌❌✅❌✅✅
SGP✅✅❌✅❌❌❌✅✅
VVD❌❌❌❌✅✅❌✅✅
JA21✅❌❌❌❌❌❌✅✅
PVV❌❌❌❌❌✅❌✅❌
FVD❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌

Voting record overview of Dutch political parties on key motions concerning Tibet, Uyghurs, Hong Kong and Southern Mongolia in the 2024-2025 period

Explanation per Motion and Vote

Tibet

EU Tibet strategy and special envoy — 35207-84 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: calls on the government to work within the EU for a coordinated Tibet strategy and the appointment of an EU special envoy for Tibet. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, ChristenUnie, CDA, VVD. Against: NSC, SGP, BBB, JA21, PVV, FVD. Source: Motion by members Paternotte and Boswijk on a special EU representative and a joint EU Tibet strategy

No role for the CCP in the Dalai Lama’s succession — 35207-93 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: declares that the recognition of the successor to the 14th Dalai Lama stems exclusively from Tibetan Buddhist traditions and calls on the government to actively communicate this position. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, CDA, VVD, BBB, PVV. Against: SGP, JA21, FVD. Source: Motion by member Kahraman et al. on declaring that the Chinese Communist Party should have no voice in the Dalai Lama’s succession

Uyghur Rights and Accountability

Sanctions against perpetrators of abuse against Uyghurs — 35207-89 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: calls for (EU) sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights violations against Uyghurs. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, BBB, JA21. Against: VVD, PVV, FVD. Source: Motion by members Van Baarle and Paternotte on more sanctions for perpetrators of human rights violations against Uyghurs

EU-wide ban on products made with Uyghur forced labour — 35207-90 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: calls on the government to support and accelerate an EU ban on products where Uyghur forced labour is plausible. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, BBB. Against: VVD, JA21, PVV, FVD. Source: Motion by member Van Baarle on banning products from Uyghur forced labour at EU level

Name “East Turkistan” instead of “Xinjiang” — 35207-91 (9 April 2025). Rejected. What it does: calls on the government to use the name “East Turkistan” in official communications. For: GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, D66, CDA. Against: SP, Volt, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, VVD, BBB, JA21, PVV, FVD. Source: Motion by member Van Baarle on using the name East Turkestan instead of Xinjiang

Independent genocide investigation — 35207-96 (9 April 2025). Rejected. What it does: calls for Dutch/EU support for an independent, legal investigation into possible genocide against Uyghurs. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA. Against: NSC, VVD, BBB, JA21, PVV, FVD. Source: Motion by members Boswijk and Paternotte on scientific research into whether China’s approach in the Uyghur region can be defined as genocide

Foreign Affairs budget: additional EU steps against goods from Uyghur forced labour — 36600-V-53 (26 November 2024). Adopted. What it does: budgetary instruction to the government to promote additional EU measures against the import of goods produced with forced labour. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, VVD, BBB, JA21. Against: PVV, FVD. Source: Amended motion by member Van Baarle on taking additional steps at European level to ban products manufactured with Uyghur forced labour (replacing 36600-V-37)

Hong Kong and Southern Mongolia

Systematically raising China’s human rights violations — 35207-92 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: obliges the government to systematically and publicly raise violations, explicitly regarding Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians and others; in practice also used to address Hong Kong. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, VVD, BBB, JA21, PVV. Against: FVD. Source: Motion by member Kahraman et al. on repeatedly raising human rights violations with China

Security, Influence and Espionage

Speaking out against Chinese escalation — 35207-83 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: calls on the government to respond consistently, diplomatically and publicly to Chinese threats and escalation in the international context. For: GroenLinks-PvdA, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, CDA, VVD, BBB, JA21, PVV. Against: SP, PvdD, SGP, FVD. Source: Motion by member Paternotte et al. on always speaking out against Chinese escalation

Independent advice against unwanted influence — 35207-86 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: calls for an independent advisory mechanism/expertise to counter unwanted interference, intimidation and espionage, including that targeting diaspora communities. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, VVD, BBB. Against: JA21, PVV, FVD. Source: Motion by members Ceder and Boswijk on the consequences of budget cuts on China’s influence

Protect vital infrastructure against espionage and foreign interference — 35207-95 (9 April 2025). Adopted. What it does: instructs the government to take concrete measures to protect vital sectors against espionage and interference by the Chinese state and affiliated entities. For: SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, DENK, Volt, D66, NSC, ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, VVD, BBB, JA21, FVD. Against: PVV. Source: Motion by member Boswijk et al. on urgently carrying out the follow-up investigation into the security of vital infrastructure

NB: a TikTok privacy motion (35207-85) was introduced that week and later answered by the government. There was no plenary vote; this is not counted. Source: Motion by member Ceder on strict privacy conditions for TikTok

What Parties Wrote in Their Election Manifestos

  • GroenLinks-PvdA and D66 affirm in their manifestos a clear commitment to human rights and international cooperation. Their voting records show consistency: they stood by our side on virtually all motions concerning Tibet, Uyghurs, Hong Kong and Southern Mongolia.

  • The VVD primarily emphasises security, technology and economic resilience. They voted in favour of motions on Tibet and national security, but rejected the most important proposals on the Uyghurs.

  • BBB speaks of reducing dependence on China and Russia. In parliament, the party supported proposals on de-risking and infrastructure protection, but showed inconsistent voting behaviour on human rights.

  • CDA, ChristenUnie, Volt, DENK, SP and PvdD link values to international responsibility and European cooperation. They supported the majority of motions and showed solidarity with our communities.

  • NSC and JA21 kept their distance with cautious formulations and divided voting records.

  • PVV, FVD and SGP made no commitments on Tibet, Uyghurs, Hong Kong or Southern Mongolia and voted almost consistently against our proposals.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

We thank five members of parliament who consistently showed support and visible leadership: Jan Paternotte (D66), Isa Kahraman (NSC), Kati Piri & Tom van der Lee (GroenLinks-PvdA), Stephan van Baarle (DENK) and Derk Boswijk (CDA). They introduced and steered several of the motions mentioned above and kept our communities in the public eye.

About Our Coalition

In 2024 and 2025, the Dutch House of Representatives took a clear stance on the human rights situation of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers and Southern Mongolians. Our coalition, consisting of the Dutch branch of the International Campaign for Tibet, the Tibetan Community Netherlands, Tibet Support Group Netherlands, FreeUyghur Association, the SEOTEC Foundation (Europa East Turkistan Education Centre), the Dutch Uyghur Human Rights Foundation, Netherlands4HongKong, NGO-DEI and the Southern Mongolian Congress Netherlands, consistently brought these issues to the attention of parliament. We highlighted abuses such as forced labour and economic exploitation in the Uyghur region, state control over religion in Tibet, the loss of autonomy in Hong Kong, the suppression of language and education in Southern Mongolia, and the growing security risks posed by Chinese influence and espionage. Since the beginning of 2025, our organisations have actively contributed to parliamentary debate and provided members of parliament with information and recommendations.

On Behalf Of

Tibet Support Group (TSG) Netherlands

TSG Logo

Tibetan Community Netherlands (Tibetaanse Gemeenschap Nederland)

TSG Logo

Dutch Branch of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT Europe)

TSG Logo

FreeUyghur Association

TSG Logo

SEOTEC Foundation (Europa East Turkistan Education Centre)

TSG Logo

Dutch Uyghur Human Rights Foundation (DUHRF)

TSG Logo

Netherlands4HongKong (Netherlands for Hong Kong)

TSG Logo

NGO-DEI (我地) — The Hague

TSG Logo

Southern Mongolian Congress Netherlands

TSG Logo

Students for a Free Tibet Netherlands (SFT NL)

TSG Logo

Sources

Publication Date

11 October 2025

Summary

A factual overview of how Dutch political parties voted on key motions concerning Tibet, Uyghurs, Hong Kong and Southern Mongolia in 2024-2025. This article compares voting records with election manifesto pledges and shows which parties genuinely stand up for human rights in Chinese-controlled regions.

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tibet

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