BRITAIN’S economy cannot thrive without China, Sir Keir Starmer suggested yesterday — as he defended cosying up to Beijing.
He linked hands with President Xi Jinping and Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese for a photo at the G20 summit in Rio, 24 hours after the first meeting of British and Chinese leaders in six years.
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But it has sparked a backlash over human rights worries.
Hours before Xi met Sir Keir, 45 pro-democracy activists were jailed for trying to field opposition candidates in a Hong Kong election.
The PM said of the Communist state: “It’s always important to get the balance right.
“China is the second biggest economy in the world, and it is important, therefore we do have a pragmatic relationship, but at the same time, it is important that where we disagree, we’re open about that and talk about our disagreements, as we did yesterday.”
He went on: “But I’m driven by the fact that economic growth, getting our economy working properly so people feel better off is the number one mission of this Government, and that’s why a pragmatic, serious relationship is the right relationship to have with China.”
Phony friends
AS he cosied up to China at the G20, was Keir Starmer aware that Beijing was doing exactly the same with its REAL friends from the Kremlin?
“A strong UK-China relationship is important for both our countries,” declared our PM . . . quite the reversal given his total condemnation of the Chinese from the comfort of opposition.
And how wide-eyed it sounds, with them also glad-handing Putin’s odious lackey Sergei Lavrov.
“We are at an unprecedented stage in the development of our strategic relations of a comprehensive partnership,” said Lavrov — a statement far more significant to Beijing than whether Labour lets them build a new London embassy.
How impotent too the PM’s protests to President Xi over Hong Kong look with 47 democracy campaigners jailed there within hours.
Our Government sees Chinese money as crucial for growth.
But there is a naivety to befriending a genocidal regime which simultaneously has Putin’s back against our own allies, Ukraine.
It won’t have been lost on Xi either.
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