BEIJING: British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, currently on a state visit to Beijing, stated that he had addressed human rights concerns in all his meetings with top Chinese officials. Cleverly’s visit marks the first by a UK foreign minister to China in five years. During his visit, he held talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and met with top diplomat Wang Yi.
The agenda for these meetings included topics such as China’s actions in Hong Kong, Beijing’s alleged human rights violations, and broader human rights concerns. Cleverly affirmed that he had raised these issues consistently in all his discussions with Chinese officials.
He commented, “I’ve had a number of conversations with senior representatives of the Chinese government and I have raised human rights in every single one of those meetings.” He emphasized that human rights issues are not only discussed bilaterally but also on a global platform such as the United Nations.
China Says Hong Kong and Xinjiang Are Internal Matters
China’s foreign ministry, in response, stated that topics like Hong Kong and Xinjiang are internal matters of China and do not permit interference from other nations.
Cleverly’s visit follows his criticism of the Hong Kong government for offering rewards for information leading to the capture of democracy activists abroad. Additionally, a report by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee recently labeled China as “a threat to the UK and its interests,” urging a more coordinated approach to handling China-related matters.
The UK’s stance on China has garnered attention for its complexity, with Cleverly acknowledging the need for a pragmatic and united approach while also addressing areas of fundamental disagreement.
As the UK navigates its relationship with China, Cleverly emphasized that the multifaceted nature of China’s influence means that the bilateral relationship will be “complicated and sophisticated.” He stated, “We are clear-eyed about the areas where we have fundamental disagreements with China, and I raise those issues when we meet. We will pursue a pragmatic working relationship, but that does of course mean raising the issues where we disagree.”
