Raab acts on China threat to Hong Kong
TENSIONS with China were ratcheted up last night after Britain suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
Arms exports to the former British colony were also banned due to Beijing’s draconian grip on the territory.
Boris Johnson insisted he would not be pushed into becoming a “knee-jerk Sinophobe” but said the UK has “serious concerns” about Chinese human rights abuses.
The Prime Minister insisted the UK will be “tough” with China but will not “completely abandon our policy of engagement” with the regime.
The Government was forced to change its position on Chinese firm Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network over security fears. It is also considering sanctions over “grave concerns” about the “gross abuses” of Uighur Muslims in China.
The measures, announced in the Commons yesterday, were imposed after Beijing brought in new security laws on Hong Kong that will mean severe punishments, including life imprisonment, for protesters.
China has accused the UK of meddling and China’s ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has warned it will retaliate.
But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab insisted the actions taken were a “reasonable and proportionate” response.
He told MPs the extradition treaty was being suspended “immediately and indefinitely” over concerns the security legislation could allow cases to be transferred to mainland China.
An arms embargo with mainland China has been in place since 1989 and will be extended to Hong Kong.
Mr Raab warned Beijing the world is watching and would respond to its aggression. He added: “This embargo will mean there will be no exports from the UK to Hong Kong of potentially lethal weapons, their components or ammunition.”
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy called for a “new era” in the UK’s relationship with China, saying: “This must mark the start of a more strategic approach and an end to the naivety of the ‘golden-era years’.”
China is expected to dominate talks between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he meets Mr Johnson and Mr Raab in London today.