The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Johnson and Pompeo discuss China amid mounting tensions
TALKS: PM and US secretary of state discuss Hong Kong and likely trade deal
Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have had “candid” talks as tensions mounted between China and the Western allies.
The meeting followed the UK Government’s U-turn on Chinese tech giant Huawei’s involvement in 5G networks, a move welcomed by Washington, and after Monday’s suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to Beijing’s national security law.
China has warned Britain will “bear the consequences” of its actions.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London said Beijing had expressed its concerns over the UK interfering in Hong Kong matters, “which are internal affairs of China”.
Downing Street said Mr Johnson and Mr Pompeo, along with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, discussed “shared global security and foreign policy issues, including China’s actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang” where there are concerns about the abuse of the Uighur Muslims.
“Ambitious approach to working together on the technologies of the future. DOWNING STREET SPOKESMAN
They also discussed the importance of the Five Eyes alliance, the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, taking an “ambitious approach to working together on the technologies of the future”, something apparently aimed at ending the reliance on Chinese technology from firms such as Huawei.
Downing Street said they also discussed a possible US-UK trade deal.
Mr Pompeo said it was a “constructive” visit and “our two countries’ longstanding, strong bilateral relationship has laid the foundation for the candid discussion on issues ranging from 5G telecommunication to our negotiations for a US-UK free trade agreement”.
Downing Street rejected China’s condemnation of the UK’S actions over the extradition treaty and the extension of an arms embargo to cover Hong Kong.
It was a “reasonable and proportionate response to China’s failure to live up to its international obligations with respect to Hong Kong”, the prime minister’s official spokesman said.
The UK has accused China of breaking the terms of an international treaty by imposing the national security law, which the government believes undermines some of the autonomy Hong Kong has previously enjoyed.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said: “China urges the UK side to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, in any form.”