Tories establish anti-China parliamentary group
The anti-China camp in the Tory right received a shot in the arm today with the formation of a parliamentary lobby group hostile to Beijing’s interests in the UK.
The so-called China Research Group (CRG) is calling for a “rethink” in Sino-British relations, especially in the light of the Chinese technology giant Huawei’s partially successful bid to develop aspects of Britain’s 5G network.
The Times reports on the launch of our group https://t.co/S1sfX8Ha5s
— China Research Group (@ChinaResearchGp) April 25, 2020
There are two senior Tories at the heart of the CRG. Foremost, the group is led by the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee at the House of Commons, Tom Tugendhat.
We’re going to need to understand China a lot better if we’re going to build the kind of relationship we all need. That’s why we set up @ChinaResearchGp. https://t.co/S9Q1gT8Ypi
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) April 25, 2020
A former British military intelligence officer, Tugendhat has emerged as the leading Sinophobe in the Tory party.
The group’s secretary is Tory MP Neil O’Brien, a former special adviser to ex-Prime Minister Theresa May and a former director of the conservative thinktank Policy Exchange.
I'm part of this new parliamentary group looking at how to respond to the rise of China & its economic & diplomatic policies https://t.co/FF22HW1AU8
— Neil O'Brien MP (@NeilDotObrien) April 25, 2020
Tugendhat has seized on the global coronavirus crisis to conduct a propaganda campaign against China.
“Beijing’s long pattern of information suppression has contributed to the unfolding [coronavirus] crisis … The [Chinese Communist] party are now using the current emergency to build influence around the world”, Tugendhat said in a statement, apparently oblivious to the fact that all countries seek to develop influence.
Ultimately, the aim of the CRG appears to be to apply pressure on PM Boris Johnson to reverse his decision to allow a limited role for Huawei in the development of the UK’s 5G network.
Most of the government – in tandem with the British intelligence community – are in favor of Huawei’s limited role in the development of the UK’s 5G network.
It remains to be seen if CRG can sabotage this consensus and by extension develop a wider and deeper disruptive impact on Sino-British relations.
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