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British lawmakers call for stronger approach to ‘threat’ posed by Beijing’s rising influence
- Backbenchers call for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government to be more aggressive in confronting China, particularly on human rights issues
- Sunak has called for a nuanced approach to China’s ‘epoch-defining’ challenge
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Chad Brayin London
A group of British lawmakers have called for the UK government to be more aggressive in confronting Beijing and addressing an ongoing “threat” posed by China’s rising influence under President Xi Jinping, particularly on human rights issues.
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In recent years, Britain’s policy towards China has evolved from an era of cooperation under former prime minister David Cameron to today’s confusing and incoherent approach - each time driven by economics, according to Jim Shannon, a Democratic Unionist Party MP.
“There is a real fear that a focus solely on money will mean that the UK’s fundamental beliefs in human rights and rule of law are being subjugated for the purpose of trade gains,” Shannon said during a debate on China-UK relations in Westminster Hall on Thursday.
“This would be great for China and all of the authoritarian states watching, but terrible for the UK and its standing in the world,” he added. “This is where I am urging extreme caution. We are watching real time the reduction of democratic states and the rise of authoritarian regimes.”
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Cameron had pushed for greater investment and economic ties as part of what was dubbed a “golden era” of cooperation between the countries, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping make a state visit to Britain in 2015.
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