House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee
9th June 2021
Witness:
Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Exports, Department for International Trade;
Nigel Adams MP, Minister for Asia, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Today, Nigel Adams MP, Minister of State for Asia at the Foreign Office appeared before the House of Lords International Relations Select Committee – in the final evidence taking session. I drew his attention to the Uyghur Tribunal hearings in London this week and reminded him that in March 2021, the Government took joint action with the US, Canada and the EU to impose parallel sanctions on senior Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Xinjiang. I asked to what extent will the Government will continue to coordinate common responses with partners and allies regarding China and whether the UK Government will continue this approach should tensions in the US – China relationship escalate.
LORD ALTON:
In March, the Government took joint action with the US, Canada and the EU to impose parallel sanctions on some Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Xinjiang – with the US naming it as genocide. To what extent will the Government continue to coordinate common responses with partners and allies – for instance you said earlier the UK will deepen trade and investment links – how does that square with the US decision this week to impose import controls on cotton from Uyghur slave labour and the EU’s decision to suspend its investment deal until sanctions on European parliamentarians are lifted? Will we be doing the same? And how will the UK continue to stand with its allies should tensions escalate in the US – China relationship – for instance over HK or Taiwan
Earlier this week I sat through some of the proceedings of the Uyghur Tribunal during which witnesses described being chained, raped and tortured, used as slave labour and concurred with the House of Commons that a genocide is under way in Xinjiang. Do you accept that genocide is of a different order to human rights violations committed by many States – and carries international Treaty and Convention obligations. Do you think its licit to seek a deepening of trade with any State credibly accused of genocide?
LORD ALTON:
An earlier witness to the Inquiry told us, as you have done, that the Covid pandemic underlined the importance of our global interconnectedness.
As a follow up I tabled a parliamentary Question which established that we had bought 1 billion lateral flow tests from China – repeat 1 billion – but was told it was too sensitive to reveal the names of the companies involved or what it has cost taxpayers. Can I ask why we not aren’t being more transparent? Don’t 1 billion lateral flow tests underline the dangers of over reliance on the CCP – and a lost opportunity for UK manufacturing – and how do you respond to both the silencing and incarceration of those brave Chinese citizens who have questioned the origins of the Wuhan virus and the punitive action the CCP has taken against Australia for calling for an independent inquiry?
