Britain will have to balance “very clear” country security concerns, especially about China, from being an “external” trading country to soft on its “fragile” economy, according to a foreign secretary.
Catherine West said the country must “sometimes be involved” with nations whose values “may not completely align with ours”, and that British businesses in Hong Kong say it is “so lovely” when they are visited by MPs.
He added the “quite exposed position” of Great Britain after Brexit means that he will have to “look externally in our economy if we need our citizens and the electorate to move away from food banks. “
Her remarks came as she defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ visit to China in the wake of arrest warrants being issued for pro-democracy activists living in the UK.
Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith – who is among a number of MPs sanctioned by China – said the arrest warrants are “the last act of a Chinese Communist Party who don’t care what countries like the UK say” as he pressed for sanctions to be imposed.
Several parliamentarians have expressed considerations about the protection of Hong Kongers living in the UK.
Foreign Minister Mrs. Reeves is expected to go to China this week for interviews with the Deputy Prime Minister, Lifeng, after an assembly between Sir Keir Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November.
Ms West rejected calls to cancel as MPs wondered why it continued after Hong Kong police presented awards for data that led to the arrest of six activists, 4 of whom recently live in the kingdom.
In a press conference in the communes, Shadow Foreign Minister Dame Priviti Patel said the mandates “show that this government’s planned reset with China is only one way. “
She said: “Before meeting President Xi, the Prime Minister had said he wanted a relationship that is consistent, durable and respectful, and stated that the pair agree that there be no more surprises.”
Give me Priti added: “Can the minister verify with an undeniable yes yes or not, if the chancellor can accumulate those bonds at the highest point when he fly again in China next week to carry out a quick investment for the rescue of Your failure of the economic strategy?
Ms West replied: “We’re in a position where our economy is quite fragile, and whilst we have very clear national security concerns, and today’s a really good example of those, we do have to balance those with being an outwardly facing and globally trading nation, where we need to sometimes be involved with other countries where their values may not completely align with ours.
“And so I make no apologies for trying to support British business abroad, including in Hong Kong, where British businesses have said it is so lovely to see MPs visit us.”
Liberal Foreign Affairs spokesman, Calum Miller, also suggested to the Government to “reconsider” the chancellor with Beijing, softly the orders and the continuous detention of Jimmy Lai.
Pro-democracy supporter Mr Lai was jailed in late 2020 in Hong Kong, and is currently being held in solitary confinement after being accused of violating the territory’s national security law.
Mrs. West said she had “personally promised” the son of Mr. Lai who would raise the case of his father, and added: “Unfortunately, due to our position exposed after Brexit, we will have to look externally in our economy if we need you to need Our citizens and the electorate move away from food banks.
Labor deputy Sarah Owen (Luton North) requested the security that British police forces understood the “severity of the threat” for the protection of Hong Kong on the British soil.
Labor deputy Mark Sewards (Leeds, South West and Morley) pointed out the case of British resident Chloe Cheung and had undergone a reward of £ 100,000 for “telling the truth” about Mr. S. lay.
Mrs. West said she would ensure that a “specially designed security set” evolves for women if Mr. Sewards felt more to do so.
After the Liberal Democrat Deputy, the Dean (Carshalton and Wallington) advised the government to “cancel the foreign minister’s visit” to China, Mrs. West said: “There will be no travel cancellations on the basis that there must be a detail of external concentrate through the external concentrate through the external concentrate United Kingdom, namely, given the economic legacy and the position in which we are.
Luke of Pulford, director of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China, described the comments of Mrs. West about the negotiation objectives of the United Kingdom as a “shocking entry. “
He wrote on social media site X: “Erm, no. We don’t trade away our national security.”
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