UK scraps Hong Kong arms and extradition deals as tensions rise
THE UK Government has stopped selling arms to Hong Kong and blocked the extradition of offenders in response to China’s new security law.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced the “immediate and indefinite” suspension of the extradition treaty with the former British colony in a statement to MPS yesterday.
It signals mounting tension between Westminster and the Chinese government, following China’s decision to implement a controversial national security law in Hong Kong.
The law effectively bans any form of political dissent in the country, and can extend beyond Hong Kong and mainland China.
Along with blocking the extradition of Hong Kong nationals from the UK, the Mr Raab also announced that an arms embargo which has been in place between the UK and China since1989 would now be extended to Hong Kong.
He told MPS: “The extension of this embargo will mean there will be no exports from the UK to Hong Kong of potentially lethal weapons, their components or ammunition and it will also mean a ban on the export of any equipment not already banned which might be used for internal repression such as shackles, intercept equipment, firearms and smoke grenades.
“The Government has decided to suspend the extradition treaty immediately and indefinitely, and I should also tell the House that we would not consider reactivating those arrangements unless and until there are clear and robust safeguards which are able to prevent extradition from the UK being misused under the new national security legislation.”
The latest decision will add further strain the UK’S relationship with China, which has been damaged in recent months by the decision of the government to allow British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders from Hong Kong into the UK and give them a “path to citizenship”.
Relations were further damaged after the decision to ban Huawei’s 5G technology from the country last week.
Mr Raab said the UK wanted “a positive relationship with China” but warned that the “whole world is watching” Chinese leaders’ actions in relation to Hong Kong.
He continued: “There is a huge amount to be gained for both countries, there are many areas where we can work productively, constructively to mutual benefit together.
“For our part, the UK will work hard and in good faith towards that goal but we will protect our vital interests.
“We will stand up for our values and we will hold China to its international obligations. The specific measures I’ve announced today are a reasonable and proportionate response to China’s failure to live up to those international obligations in respect to Hong Kong.”
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy welcomed the move but said it must be part of a broader strategy towards China. The Labour MP said: “Our quarrel is not with the people of China, but the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, the actions of the Chinese government in the South China Sea and the appalling treatment of the Uighur people is reason now to act.
“I urge him to work with colleagues across Government to ensure that this marks the start of a strategic approach to China and the start of a new era.”
She also said the plans to allow BNO passport holders entry to the UK “will essentially be offering a safe harbour only to the rich and highly skilled” in their current form, as anyone who comes is not eligible for benefits, home status and would have to pay the NHS surcharge.
Liberal Democrats MP Alistair Carmichael urged Mr Raab to call the Chinese authorities’ treatment of the Muslim Uighur people, widely reported from drone footage and on-the-ground testimonies, as genocide.
Over the weekend the UK’S Chinese ambassador was confronted with footage showing people being lined up and put on to trains, with women telling of how they were subjected to forced sterilisation. The ambassador said he did not know anything about the incidents or where the footage had come from. Mr Carmichael said: “I know that genocide is a ‘term of art’ in law and that the Foreign Secretary is right to be cautious about its use, but it would make an enormous difference to tackling the issues as far as Xinjiang province are concerned if he would admit from the despatch box that there are now a growing number of adminicles of evidence to say that that is absolutely what is happening.”
Responding, Mr Raab said: “We are increasingly confident and there is a strong case to answer, as I think the Chinese ambassador was unable to do yesterday... of systematic human rights abuses and frankly what the legal label on it is to me secondary to the plight of the victims who are suffering under it.”
MPS also raised concerns about the impact of the decision on Chinese students at UK universities, and on Confucius institutes.
The Foreign Secretary said that Chinese visitors to the UK would still be welcome and would be able to study here without problem.