No comments on human rights and religious freedom were made, as Beijing’s propaganda and infiltration efforts intensify in Italy.
by Marco Respinti
President Mattarella with Xi Jinping. November 8. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Politics often leans toward cynicism, almost as if it were its natural state. However, it is particularly disheartening to witness the highest institutional authority in a nation that champions democracy capitulate to a brutal totalitarian regime. This is especially true when referencing the repressive regime of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the authoritarian leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This troubling narrative unfolded yet again.
During his official visit to the PRC from November 6 to 12, 2014, Italian President Sergio Mattarella engaged with a range of senior political figures, notably including a meeting with President Xi Jinping on November 8. The occasion was swiftly leveraged by the Beijing regime for propaganda purposes. Controversially, President Mattarella appeared to overlook mentioning the disquieting plight faced by millions within China’s extensive borders.
The global community is acutely aware that the PRC routinely engages in unlawful detentions and the forced internment of innocent individuals in horrifying conditions resembling slave labor and re-education camps. There is widespread acknowledgment of the distressing reality for PRC citizens who endure extrajudicial killings, arbitrary disappearances, alarming rates of state-sanctioned death sentences, as well as heinous acts such as the forced extraction of organs from prisoners of conscience, and systematic violations of women’s rights. Other atrocities include torture, psychological coercion, pervasive surveillance, and a general erosion of fundamental human rights through state-driven repression. These conditions extend to the total militarization of public spaces, with an omnipresent threat looming over even those who manage to flee abroad. President Mattarella, undeniably aware of these heinous abuses, chose to remain conspicuously silent on such matters.
The list of transgressions perpetrated by the neo-post-national-communist regime of the PRC remains unaltered and serves as a stark parallel to the concerns I previously articulated in an open letter addressed to Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, following her visit to the PRC in May 2024. Like Mattarella, Prime Minister Meloni met with President Xi Jinping, yet she too refrained from making any public comments regarding these grave violations. My open letter provocatively posed the question: “Where Does Italy Stand on Chinese Crimes Against Humanity?” However, it elicited no formal response. Anticipating a reply from the Italian prime minister to an obscure journalist, such as myself, was perhaps unrealistic, but a more substantial response through political action certainly warranted consideration. That response recently took shape in President Mattarella’s visit, unreservedly accompanied by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani representing the Italian government.
Mattarella and Xi Jinping arrive at the Great Hall of People in Beijing. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Throughout his trip to China, the typically genial and approachable President Mattarella has found himself in politically sensitive situations, often leading to significant embarrassment for the Italian state. This reached a peak when Mattarella extolled the “bilateral relations of friendship and collaboration between China and Italy,” a statement that many found difficult to reconcile with the troubling backdrop of Chinese human rights violations.
However, the new path of cooperation should not morph into a caricature of subservience, mirroring the longstanding trade policies that have allowed China’s influence to dominate sectors within Italy. A glaring illustration of this occurs in the agricultural import market: a surplus of tomatoes imported from China has surged into the Campania region, particularly Salerno, highlighting the PRC’s expanding foothold in Italy.
No one anticipated that the proclaimed new route of diplomacy would empower the PRC to play a pivotal role in addressing the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In his November 11 “lectio magistralis” at Peking University, Mattarella suggested that the PRC should leverage its considerable influence in the global arena to promote norms that foster international coexistence, and advocate for an end to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty.
This appeal, however, overlooks the evident alliance between the PRC and Russia, compounded by the PRC’s consistent support for Russian military efforts, which raises profound skepticism about the sincerity of Mattarella’s proposal. Inviting the manager of a rival team to serve as an impartial referee in a tense match encapsulates the implausibility of this expectation.
A further absurdity lies in Mattarella’s invocation of a “traditional position in support of the international community’s norms of coexistence” attributed to the PRC. In reality, such a principle is non-existent. The PRC aggressively threatens neighboring states and poses a significant concern for global peace. It asserts territorial claims that have no legitimacy and manipulates geographical representations to suit its narrative. The expansive Chinese expansionist policies reflect an ongoing trend of colonization in emerging economies, blatantly disregarding fundamental international trade principles, ethics, or humanitarian considerations.
On November 11, President Mattarella visited the Buddhist Temple of Lingyin in Hangzhou, which he may not have realized is operated by a facade group employed by the regime to cultivate a false narrative of religious freedom amidst widespread repression. During his time at the temple, President Mattarella failed to voice any concerns regarding the persecution of various religions in China, much like his silence during his prior visit to the cemetery dedicated to Catholic missionaries who had served in China. While he deserves recognition for honoring historical figures, he neglected the present-day anguish of the living, particularly as Beijing continues to extend its controversial agreement with the Vatican.
Mattarella visiting Lingyin Temple. Source: Presidenza della Repubblica Italiana.
Italy has increasingly become a focal point for the establishment of numerous PRC police stations, an alarming development recently shrouded in silence. Under the public radar, President Mattarella, just as Prime Minister Meloni had, neglected to address this shocking enforcement presence.
The internal dialogue surrounding asylum seekers from the harshly persecuted Church of Almighty God reveals yet another unsettling dimension. The lists of individuals, scandalously published by a website suspected of ties to PRC intelligence agencies, have gone unchallenged by President Mattarella, who failed to inquire into the source of this information even in his meetings in Beijing. So far, Prime Minister Meloni has similarly refrained from publicly addressing this outrageous violation of personal data rights.
Nevertheless, President Mattarella found the opportunity to attend the grand inauguration of the inaugural Chair of Italian Culture at the University of Beijing on November 9, an initiative financed with a significant investment of 2.5 million euros from the Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli, a prominent social science research institute based in Turin, Italy, established by Fiat, a global leader in the automotive industry and now part of the Dutch multinational Stellantis, which has often been mired in controversy due to begs for financial subsidy while struggling with management inefficiencies that are adversely affecting Italy’s automotive sector.
Mattarella, John Elkann, and Romano Prodi in Beijing.
One cannot help but draw a parallel that haunts my thoughts, evoking imagery of Mattarella, Elkann, and Prodi seated together at the inauguration of the Agnelli Chair, reminiscent, in some respects, of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Stalin, and Winston Churchill’s alignment at the Yalta Conference—a striking tableau of contrasting emotions.
How can Italy effectively address human rights violations while maintaining diplomatic relations with China?
**Interview with Human Rights Expert, Dr. Elena Russo**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Russo. The recent visit of Italian President Sergio Mattarella to China has raised significant concerns regarding human rights and religious freedom. What are your thoughts on the implications of his silence on these critical issues?
**Dr. Russo**: Thank you for having me. Mattarella’s silence during his meetings with Xi Jinping is indeed troubling. It reflects a broader trend where political leaders overlook severe human rights violations in the name of diplomacy and trade relations. This is particularly concerning when one considers the widespread repression that millions endure in China.
**Editor**: You mentioned a broader trend. How does this pattern of silence from Italy’s leadership affect global perceptions of human rights?
**Dr. Russo**: It creates a dangerous precedent—normalizing the idea that economic partnerships can overshadow fundamental human rights. When leaders like Mattarella and Prime Minister Meloni neglect to address these violations, it sends a message that human rights can be compromised for political gain. This undermines Italy’s credibility as a democratic nation championing human rights on the global stage.
**Editor**: In your opinion, what are the potential consequences for Italy’s internal and external policies as a result of this increasingly close relationship with China?
**Dr. Russo**: Internally, it could lead to a dilution of Italy’s commitment to human rights, setting a dangerous example for how future administrations engage with authoritarian regimes. Externally, it may weaken Italy’s position in international forums where human rights are a fundamental concern, affecting alliances with other democratic countries that prioritize these issues.
**Editor**: There’s also the concern about the establishment of Chinese police stations in Italy. What could be the implications of this development?
**Dr. Russo**: The presence of PRC police stations represents a serious violation of Italy’s sovereignty and raises alarm bells about China’s reach into domestic affairs. It poses a risk not only to those targeted by the Chinese government but also to the broader Italian populace by normalizing state-sponsored repression within Italy’s borders. This situation calls for an urgent and robust response from the Italian government.
**Editor**: Some have argued that engagement with countries like China could foster positive change. What would you say to that?
**Dr. Russo**: Engagement can be constructive, but it must be paired with accountability. Diplomacy should never come at the cost of ignoring egregious human rights violations. True engagement involves raising these issues and demanding reform, not sidelining them for the sake of good relations.
**Editor**: Lastly, what actions would you recommend for the Italian government moving forward?
**Dr. Russo**: Italy must reaffirm its commitment to human rights by publicly addressing abuses within China during diplomatic engagements. This means not only speaking out about the injustices but also implementing policies that protect vulnerable populations within Italy who may be affected by these dynamics. Furthermore, Italy should collaborate with its European partners to ensure a unified approach to human rights advocacy globally.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Russo, for your insights into this complex issue. It’s clear that the implications of these diplomatic engagements extend far beyond just trade.
**Dr. Russo**: Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we keep these conversations going and hold our leaders accountable for their choices.
