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Tories call for Chinese diplomats to be expelled over Beijing's protest reaction

People hold white sheets of paper in protest over Covid restrictions in Beijing - REUTERS
People hold white sheets of paper in protest over Covid restrictions in Beijing - REUTERS

Britain should expel Chinese diplomats after the heavy-handed put down of protests on Sunday, a cabinet minister has suggested, as Tories pushed for a tougher Downing Street stance.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was business secretary under Liz Truss, also floated inviting the Dalai Lama on a formal visit to show the UK is no “pushover” with Beijing.

Other Tory MPs said it was time for the Government to “get serious” about the challenge posed by China and mocked Rishi Sunak’s recent speech outlining his approach.

On Tuesday the Chinese ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, was summoned to the Foreign Office for a dressing down following the arrest of a BBC journalist.

Ed Lawrence was beaten and briefly detained while covering anti-government lockdown protests on Sunday, something the Foreign Office called “completely unacceptable”.

The protests over the government’s “zero Covid” policy were the most serious shows of dissent since pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Sunak: Golden era in relations over

The Prime Minister outlined his broad thinking on China policy in a speech on Monday night in which he talked about approaching world challenges with “robust pragmatism”.

Mr Sunak outlined a twin approach that would see China called out on wrongdoing, saying the “golden era” in relations was over, with more engagement than Ms Truss had favoured as prime minister.

During a Commons debate about the BBC journalist’s arrest and China policy more widely there was criticism for Mr Sunak and his government over not adopting a tougher stance to Beijing.

Police patrol a street in an area where a message that circulated online called on people to gather for a protest against Covid restrictions in Beijing - REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Police patrol a street in an area where a message that circulated online called on people to gather for a protest against Covid restrictions in Beijing - REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Mr Rees-Mogg said: “I wonder what effect calling the ambassador in has, and whether more doesn't need to be done urgently that actually has an effect on the Chinese operation in the UK.

"Should we not be looking to expel diplomats, to take tougher action in international forums where Chinese interests are at stake, to do things that the Chinese would not want us to do, like improving our relationship with Taiwan, or inviting the Dalai Lama on a formal visit by the British Government so that we show that we are not a pushover, we are not going to support the communist running dogs?"

Foreign Office minister David Rutley responded: "This calling in today - these issues will be raised in a very robust manner. Of course, safety of our citizens is absolutely key across the world and in China as well."

A Dalai Lama visit could prompt tensions

The Dalai Lama is Tibet’s spiritual leader and is often also seen as a political leader of the country. China claims sovereignty over Tibet, meaning a Dalai Lama visit to the UK could prompt tensions with Beijing.

Meanwhile members of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee have begun a visit to Taiwan, which is also the subject of Chinese claims of sovereignty. The MPs are meeting senior Taiwanese politicians in the days ahead.

Mr Rees-Mogg was not the only Conservative MPs to call for a tougher China stance in Tuesday's debate.

Tim Loughton, the Tory MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said: "We have had an awful lot of calling in the Chinese ambassador. If robust pragmatism is to mean anything, should there not be clear consequences?

"We still have not expelled the Manchester consulate general. There should be other sanctions against other Chinese officials waging seriously cruel oppression on those brave protesters who are simply trying to stand up for their rights in China and against the oppressive lockdown which has already resulted in the deaths of 100 people from a fire in Wuhan last week. When are we going to get serious about China?"

Protesters hold up white paper, some with writings commemorating the deadly Urumqi fire during a gathering at the University of Hong Kong - AP
Protesters hold up white paper, some with writings commemorating the deadly Urumqi fire during a gathering at the University of Hong Kong - AP

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, criticised Mr Sunak’s use of the phrase "robustly pragmatic" in his foreign policy speech on Monday.

Sir Iain said: "There is an endless litany now of China's bad behaviour and I simply raise this particular question with him - how is it yesterday the Prime Minister, who previously said that China posed a 'systemic threat', has now moved to a 'systemic challenge' and that our strongest policy statement now in terms of our reputation and relationship with China is that we are going to be 'robustly pragmatic'?

"Could he please explain to me how 'robustly pragmatic' will worry the Chinese any one bit?"

Mr Rutley, the Foreign Office minister, replied: "What the Prime Minister was setting out yesterday is a coordinated and coherent approach where we will be doing more to adapt to China's growing impact.

"As he knows, we will be revising and updating the integrated review which will help us to invest in our alliances and in the capabilities, the serious capabilities, we need to counter the actions that we see in China's foreign policy."