China veteran warns Keir Starmer might look ‘pathetic’ on Beijing journey | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Keir Starmer should stand as much as China’s Communist regime or threat trying “pathetic” on the worldwide stage, Lord Patten has warned. The former Hong Kong governor stated the Prime Minister ought to say “exactly what he thinks” when he meets Chinese leaders. His demand comes as Sir Keir begins a high-stakes three-day go to to the financial superpower – the primary go to by a UK Prime Minister since Theresa May in 2018.

The journey follows the approval of a controversial new Chinese embassy in London and the Prime Minister is because of be accompanied by nearly 60 enterprise leaders – together with from HSBC, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover and the National Theatre – as he seeks to enhance relations with the Asian superpower. The PM is assured he can pursue commerce offers with China with out upsetting US President Donald Trump. But his makes an attempt to cosy-up to Beijing is fraught with a number of diplomatic minefields.

Critics have accused him of “Kowtowing” to President Xi.

Sir Keir can be going through strain from dwelling to lift a number of troublesome topics with Chinese chief Xi Jinping, together with China’s espionage exercise, the therapy of the Uighur minority and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner and British nationwide.

Mr Lai, 78, has been in detention for greater than 5 years, a lot of that point in solitary confinement, having been arrested in 2020 underneath Hong Kong’s new nationwide safety regulation.

Lord Chris Patten stated the Prime Minister mustn’t “lean over backwards” to keep away from offending China, including: “The Chinese do business on exactly the same basis as everybody else.”

He stated British coverage in direction of China rested on “a complete falsehood” that “in order to do business with them, we must avoid saying anything they don’t like or doing anything that they don’t like”.

He stated: “That is just complete bilge.”

Lord Patten, who ruled Hong Kong from 1992 till it was handed over to China in 1997, stated Mr Lai’s case must be “one of the first things” Sir Keir raises with the Chinese authorities throughout his go to.

“If he doesn’t raise the Jimmy Lai case, he’s been pathetic,” he stated.

Ministers have beforehand condemned the Chinese authorities for its therapy of Mr Lai.

Last month, following Mr Lai’s conviction on sedition and conspiracy costs, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper known as for his “immediate release” and the Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office.

Former Security minister Tom Tugendhat instructed the Express: “The Chinese don’t respond to weakness. They respond to strength.
“I think the Prime Minister will discover that displaying a little bit of metal and standing as much as Beijing will produce excess of kowtowing within the hope of scraps and morsels.

“I hope he comes back with genuine concessions on Jimmy Lai, on China’s repeated hostile interference in our democracy and on the aggressive campaign of cyber espionage that China is currently waging against our businesses and institutions.”

Ahead of arriving within the Chinese capital Sir Keir stated: “For years, our approach to China has been dogged by inconsistency – blowing hot and cold, from Golden Age to Ice Age. But like it or not, China matters for the UK.

“As one of the world’s biggest economic players, a strategic and consistent relationship with them is firmly in our national interest. That does not mean turning a blind eye to the challenges they pose – but engaging even where we disagree.

“This is what our allies do, and what I will do: delivering for the public, putting more money in their pockets and keeping them safe through pragmatic, consistent co-operation abroad.”

The Prime Minister will meet President Xi and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Thursday for talks on commerce, funding and nationwide safety, earlier than travelling to Shanghai.

Following his journey to China, the Prime Minister will journey to Tokyo to satisfy with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.