NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India, voiced his concern regarding possible Chinese interference in Britain’s parliamentary democracy.
This concern comes in the wake of the reported arrest of two individuals suspected of being spies for China, with one of them reportedly working as a researcher within the British Parliament.
While acknowledging the ongoing investigation, Prime Minister Sunak conveyed that he had raised “his very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable” with Premier Li.
According to a report by The Sunday Times, London’s Metropolitan Police had arrested two men in March under the Official Secrets Act, and they had subsequently been released on police bail until early October. These arrests have the potential to affect Prime Minister Sunak’s push for increased dialogue with China, as illustrated by a recent visit to Beijing by Foreign Minister James Cleverly.
UK PM Aims to Improve Ties with China
The Conservative government led by Prime Minister Sunak has aimed to improve relations with China, engaging in discussions on matters like climate change while also expressing criticism in various areas.
Prime Minister Sunak emphasized that he had raised areas of disagreement during the meeting but stressed the value of the engagement strategy “where it makes sense.” He stated, “I think the right thing to do was take the opportunity to engage, to raise concerns specifically, rather than just shouting from the sidelines.”
However, a readout from the Chinese side regarding the meeting did not make any reference to the spying allegations. Instead, it welcomed Britain’s expanded practical cooperation with China, with Premier Li emphasizing that “the two sides should properly handle their differences.”
Conservative lawmaker and China critic Mr. Iain Duncan Smith expressed skepticism about Beijing’s attitude and its response to Prime Minister Sunak’s approach. He suggested that China was largely disregarding British statements, characterizing the dialogue as a “pathetic monologue.” Mr. Duncan Smith asserted, “What’s actually going on is China is ignoring much of what we say.”
