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China: Human Rights and Sanctions
28 October 2024
Lead MP
David Lammy
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
UkraineEconomyClimate
Other Contributors: 36
At a Glance
David Lammy raised concerns about china: human rights and sanctions in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and member of the Labour Party, presented a statement on the UK’s approach towards China. He stated that the Government's national interests come first in their dealings with China, emphasising pragmatic engagement to address shared challenges and areas of disagreement. During his visit to China, he conveyed concerns about Russian equipment supplied by Chinese companies being used in Ukraine and criticised North Korea for its support of Putin, highlighting threats to European security. Lammy raised serious issues regarding human rights violations in Xinjiang and the implementation of Hong Kong’s national security law, calling for the release of British citizen Jimmy Lai. He also addressed China's role as a significant trade partner with the UK worth £100 billion and acknowledged the importance of co-operation on climate change despite challenges. Lammy committed to maintaining channels of communication at ministerial level with China, aligning with other global partners like the US, Australia, France, and Germany. The Government is currently conducting a China audit to refine their approach towards the country.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Duncan Smith questioned why issues such as Taiwan’s sovereignty and human rights abuses in Xinjiang were not more strongly addressed during the visit. He also highlighted concerns over Jimmy Lai's detention and called for clearer positions on lifting sanctions against UK parliamentarians.
Minister reply
Lammy responded by confirming that he raised all mentioned concerns including those regarding Hong Kong, Taiwan, and human rights in Xinjiang. He defended the current government’s approach to China, contrasting it with what he perceived as inconsistent policies under previous administrations.
Emily Thornberry
Lab
Islington South and Finsbury
Question
Thornberry sought clarity on the timeline for completing the China audit and invited Lammy to appear before her committee to discuss it. She emphasised the importance of a consistent approach towards China, especially concerning Taiwan’s strait tension.
Minister reply
Lammy committed to appearing before Thornberry's Committee whenever requested. He stated that the Government aims to complete the China audit early next year and reiterated the necessity for a coherent strategy in dealing with China.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Question
Congratulates the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green on securing an urgent question, expresses disappointment that the Foreign Secretary did not update the House following his visit to China, questions whether engagement with China was rushed into without a clear strategy, raises concerns about the Chinese Communist party’s human rights abuses, and asks if Jimmy Lai will be released.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is incorrect; other countries have had more engagements with China. The Government will continue to engage in strategic dialogue but also raise human rights issues robustly.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Question
Inquires if the Foreign Secretary raised human rights concerns, particularly regarding Uyghur Muslims and pro-democracy Hongkongers.
Minister reply
The hon. Friend is assured that these issues were raised robustly during the visit.
Calum Miller
Lib Dem
Bicester and Woodstock
Question
Asks if the Foreign Secretary recognises the Uyghurs’ treatment as genocide, inquires about actions to protect Hongkongers and review Hong Kong’s autonomy status, and questions whether the Government played a part in preventing Parliament from hosting former President Tsai of Taiwan.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is assured that Jimmy Lai’s case remains a priority and that the UK will continue to challenge China on human rights issues.
Marie Rimmer
Lab
St Helens South and Whiston
Question
Requests commitment to meeting with Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai’s son, and his family, expresses concern for Jimmy Lai's health in solitary confinement.
Minister reply
The hon. Friend is assured that the issue of Jimmy Lai was raised and a commitment is made to meet with his family.
Neil O'Brien
Con
Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
Question
Asks if the Foreign Secretary still believes there is clear and compelling evidence of genocide in Xinjiang.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is assured that the issue remains a matter for international bodies to determine.
Tim Roca
Lab
Macclesfield
Question
Inquires about concerns regarding North Korean troops participating in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is assured that the issue was raised with South Korea and China during the visit.
Suella Braverman
Con
Fareham and Waterlooville
Question
Questions why the Government have delayed implementing the foreign influence registration scheme.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is assured that the scheme remains important, but implementation details will be provided in due course.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
Question
Asks about efforts to bring British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah home.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is assured that the issue was raised with Egypt’s Foreign Minister.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
Asks about assurances for Hongkongers in the UK and plugging gaps in the British national overseas scheme.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is assured that safety concerns are under scrutiny by security services.
Steve Race
Lab
Exeter
Question
Asks if the Foreign Secretary raised UK’s commitment to AUKUS and general engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is assured that the UK remains committed to AUKUS, particularly pillar 2.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
As I believe the Foreign Secretary is an honest man, I am perfectly prepared to accept that he raised these matters of human rights as forcefully as he says he did, so there must be something wrong with the Foreign Office's reporting, because that forcefulness does not find its way into its account of the visit. Is one reason why his officials are reluctant to relay what really happened the fact that we are overdependent on China, and has he made an assessment of what would happen in terms of our dependence on China were, heaven forbid, a conflict to break out over Taiwan?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise dependency. One thing that the China audit will look at is that very issue, and the assessment that he refers to is being made not just by us, but by our closest allies.
Phil Brickell
Lab
Bolton West
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that the sanctions imposed on democratically elected Members of this House are wholly unacceptable, and what discussions did he have with Chinese counterparts to that effect?
Minister reply
I told Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister, that it was not just unacceptable but counterproductive and that it needed to end. Those were my exact words.
Brendan O'Hara
SNP
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Question
Of course we were all pleased to hear both the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister describe the release of Jimmy Lai as a priority. In the Foreign Secretary's meeting with his Chinese counterpart, what priority was given to the release of Jimmy Lai, and given its priority status when does the Foreign Secretary expect us to see measurable progress being made on Jimmy Lai’s release, and what will that progress look like?
Minister reply
"Progress" is Jimmy Lai's release; that is the position of the UK Government. I cannot tell the hon. Gentleman when that will be, because we are not holding him; the Chinese are holding him. We continue to say that he should be released—that is our position.
Louise Jones
Lab
North East Derbyshire
Question
Does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is a travesty that Jimmy Lai remains detained, and that he should be released immediately to return to his family?
Minister reply
Yes, 100%.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for actually coming to the House on this occasion, but does that not underline the fact that he should have volunteered a statement, rather than being forced to the Dispatch Box by an urgent question? Having listened to these exchanges, are Members of the House not still entitled to ask what exactly the Government’s overall strategic policy is towards China—given, for example, the huge build-up of nuclear weapons that China is funding, developing and building? Will he bring to the House a proper and full statement, or even a White Paper, that sets out that strategy once and for all?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right: we must have a consistent, sustained position on China. That is why we are undertaking a China audit, and I will of course update the House when it is complete.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for his update, his constructive tone and his defence of human rights in the region. Is the audit Government-wide, and will it only consider the situation now or look into future scenarios as well?
Minister reply
It was important, when we came into government, given the bouncing around that we saw in the last Government’s policy towards China, that we did a complete audit, right across Whitehall, of our interests and the opportunities, as well as of the challenges and security concerns, so that we could maintain a consistent position.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
In the Foreign Secretary’s self-declaredly “robust” conversations with the Chinese Government, did he give a time limit for lifting sanctions on British politicians, including Members of this House, and did he outline the consequences if that were not met? Or were his talks just chat, and not robust?
Minister reply
I did not give a timeline. I simply said that the sanctions should be lifted, and explained why it was just wrong and counterproductive to sanction Members of a democratic Chamber like this.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
Question
I appreciate the Foreign Secretary coming here to make much clearer our views on China, and particularly human rights abuses there. People from Hong Kong living in Milton Keynes are still fearful of intimidation and concerned about China’s influence on some of our universities. What assessment has he made of that, and how will he proceed with the Chinese Government to ensure that those influences stop?
Minister reply
Coercion and threats are unacceptable; we have made that clear to the Chinese Government, and I made it clear again.
Luke Taylor
Lib Dem
Sutton and Cheam
Question
Over the last few weeks, I have met a number of Hong Kong advocacy groups, who have outlined how withholding BNO visa holders’ access to mandatory provident fund accounts and the launch of a volunteer recruitment scheme by the Chinese embassy are spreading fear of creeping Chinese influence on our streets. What discussions has the Foreign Secretary had with the Chinese Government on ending transnational repression of Hongkongers in my constituency and across the country?
Minister reply
As I have said, I raised the issue of the national security law and our long-standing concerns about Hong Kong—concerns that will not go away, because of the UK’s unique relationship with that part of the world and many businesses and communities there.
Tony Vaughan
Lab
Folkestone and Hythe
Question
I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s confirmation that he will meet the family of Jimmy Lai, but does he agree that as China is the world’s largest emitter, we need to engage with China pragmatically as we work to tackle the climate crisis?
Minister reply
Yes. There is no way to reduce global temperatures without working with China to achieve that, so that was a big topic of discussion between our two countries in our meeting.
Danny Kruger
Reform
East Wiltshire
Question
Another topic that did not seem to make it into the Foreign Office read-out on the Foreign Secretary’s meeting is Taiwan, but I think he confirmed in answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) that that topic was discussed. Could he specify a little more clearly what he said, and was he clearer about the UK’s red lines on Taiwan?
Minister reply
I specifically discussed the aggression that we are seeing in the Taiwan straits, and I maintained our long-standing position on Taiwan.
Luke Charters
Lab
York Outer
Question
York Outer has a vibrant community of Hongkongers who want to secure Jimmy Lai’s release. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that he will raise the issue of Jimmy Lai every single time he meets Chinese officials, until he is safely released?
Minister reply
I reassure my hon. Friend that that is the case.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
The Foreign Secretary is enthusiastic about giving trillions of pounds of UK taxpayers’ money in reparations for slavery that occurred hundreds of years ago. However, when it comes to modern-day slavery in China, despite what he states was said privately, all we get publicly is a mealy-mouthed press release—a read-out from the Foreign Office that does not even mention the issue specifically. Why is that? Is it because the Government realise that we are now dependent on China for many things, including the delivery of the net zero policy?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman has a point.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
Question
Does the Foreign Secretary agree that when it comes to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, it is vital to co-ordinate rules globally, including with China, to protect British people and our technological infrastructure?
Minister reply
Yes, 100%.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
The obstruction of the supply of Taiwanese semiconductors poses an existential threat to the UK economy and our whole way of life. Did the Foreign Secretary come away from his visit reassured that our supply chains are likely to be safe for the foreseeable future? If not, what will he do to mitigate that threat by growing our indigenous capacity?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman raises an important issue.
Blair McDougall
Lab
East Renfrewshire
Question
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I thank the Foreign Secretary for making it clear that Jimmy Lai’s release is a priority, and I join hon. Members in saying that the issue is urgent, not just because of his failing health, but because once the trial restarts on 20 November, it will be more difficult to bring the situation to a positive conclusion. The Foreign Secretary mentioned the need for a consistent strategy towards China—consistent not just from him, but from the whole of Government. China reacts to naked economic self-interest, so can he make sure that the matter is raised across Government—by the Business Secretary on issues of trade, by the Net Zero Secretary on issues of green energy, as my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Tony Vaughan) mentioned, and by the Education Secretary when it comes to education, so that we appeal to that self-interest?
Minister reply
I could not agree more with my hon. Friend—there has to be a cross-Government approach. It is not just for the Foreign Secretary to engage; other Ministers have to engage with their counterparts, mindful of the three Cs: there will be many areas in which we will co-operate, but there are areas where we compete and areas where we have to challenge.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
The Foreign Secretary gave a comprehensive list of the matters that he raised, and he hinted at the reaction when he raised them, but he has not told us that anything will change as a result of the discussions. I will give him a chance to do that: what will happen to the plight of the Uyghur Muslims as a result of his visit?
Minister reply
The Uyghur Muslims were being horrendously treated, persecuted and pursued during the 14 years of the last Government, so it is crass to suggest that after three months, we could simply achieve a different result. Diplomacy is about constantly engaging to bring about a result, and that is what I will continue to do.
Gordon McKee
Lab
Glasgow South
Question
In May, the director of GCHQ said: “We want to engage with China where it’s mutually beneficial”, but that “China poses a genuine and increasing” risk to the UK’s cyber-security. Does the Foreign Secretary think that GCHQ has the resources it needs to protect us from Chinese cyber-attacks?
Minister reply
One of the most impressive parts of Government that I have seen in my three months in this job is the work of GCHQ. A fiscal event is about to happen, so I hesitate to talk about the finances available to GCHQ, but my hon. Friend can be absolutely sure that I have made the case for it, because it deserves the funds and does a great job to keep us all safe.
Nick Timothy
Con
West Suffolk
Question
Ambiguity can sometimes be helpful in diplomacy, but it is less helpful when answering a direct question about the actions of the Government here at home. The Foreign Secretary has been somewhat evasive in answering some of the questions today, so let me ask just one of them again. Did any of his officials play any part in the decision to stop the visit by President Tsai, the former President of Taiwan—yes or no?
Minister reply
I do not recognise the caricature being put about on this at all. I really do not.
Alex Ballinger
Lab
Halesowen
Question
I have met many Ukrainian refugees who are being generously housed in my constituency, and they are extremely concerned about countries such as Iran and North Korea providing matériel support to Putin’s war machine. Can the Foreign Secretary agree with me that China and Chinese companies should not provide any support to Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine?
Minister reply
Yes, I can. This was a very serious issue that I put to the Foreign Minister. We have evidence that Chinese parts with dual use capability are turning up in Russia, and they are taking lives in Ukraine, which is entirely unacceptable. My hon. Friend will not be surprised that the Chinese denied this, but we have the evidence and we put it on the table.
Chris Law
SNP
Dundee Central
Question
Will the Foreign Secretary assure the House that the UK will not seek to resume the economic and financial dialogue that was paused after the imposition of the Hong Kong national security law, given that more than 60% of the components used to prosecute Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine come from China?
Minister reply
The hon. Member again raises this serious issue in the House. It is entirely unacceptable and we will continue to engage on it.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Question
The Foreign Secretary mentioned how he raised with the Government in Beijing the Russian human rights abuses in Ukraine carried out during Russia’s aggression. A Chinese delegation was absent from the peace conference in Switzerland, yet President Xi was present in Russia at the BRICS summit last week. When the Foreign Secretary raised with Chinese counterparts these Russian human rights abuses, what was the response?
Minister reply
The hon. Member will not be surprised to hear that the Chinese denied it, but we were able to supply some evidence to back up our claims for them to reflect on, and we will re-engage to see what conclusions they come to.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Can I emphasise to the Secretary of State how important it is to have the right answers to these questions? As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on international freedom of religion or belief, I have raised the issue of human rights abuses repeatedly in this House, including at business questions every Thursday, with the former Government, so I welcome this new Government and, with them, a new approach to our international obligations. How will the Secretary of State use any and every weapon in our arsenal to secure help for the Uyghur Muslims, for Jimmy Lai—he is a practising Roman Catholic, and he is being denied the eucharist, but it is his right to have his own religious belief —and for the Christians, Falun Gong and other ethnic groups in China, and when will this begin in earnest?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right to combine those issues, and also to encourage me to mention not just our bilateral engagement with China, but our co-ordinated work with our allies to engage with China. It is the case, I think, particularly with our G7 allies, that there is more we can do.
Shadow Comment
Iain Duncan Smith
Shadow Comment
In his response, Iain Duncan Smith criticised the UK's diplomatic engagement with China during Lammy's visit. He highlighted ongoing military exercises by China threatening Taiwan’s sovereignty and called for robust condemnation of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Duncan Smith questioned why these issues were not addressed more forcefully during the visit and stressed that Jimmy Lai, a British citizen detained in Hong Kong without charge, deserves full consular access and immediate release. He also criticised the lack of progress on lifting sanctions against UK parliamentarians from China despite assurances given by the Prime Minister. Lastly, Duncan Smith expressed concern over potential deals to lift sanctions related to Xinjiang genocide.
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