莫佩琳：Boris Johnson 對中國太軟弱！

[匿名者]

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1642996/penny-mordaunt-china-latest-news-aggression-hong-kong

PENNY MORDAUNT has accused Boris Johnson's Government of being "too soft on China" as she vowed that if she becomes Prime Minister she will bring in a new sanctions regime against Beijing in what could be a final throw of the dice to win the Tory leadership.

Ms Mordaunt came second in the poll of MPs today with 92 votes but was just six ahead of a resurgent Foreign Secretary Liz Truss who is now favourite to grab the coveted second spot behind Rishi Sunak. It is widely expected that most of the mostly right-wing 59 votes which went to Kemi Badenoch will now go to the Foreign Secretary who is seen as the Brexiteer champion.

But in a bold move tonight, Ms Mordaunt has defied her critics, including former Brexit minister Lord Frost, who suggested that she would not be able to face down international opponents.

In a policy statement that takes on both Ms Truss and Mr Sunak, the trade minister has made it clear that they both have overseen a policy towards China which has been too soft.

It is one last twist in a bitter contest which has seen claim and counter claim thrown at the rivals.

A briefing exclusively shared with Express.co.uk, said that Ms Mordaunt is calling for a complete change in our relationship with China.

It noted: “The current Government has been too soft on China, prioritising economic relations over national security and human rights.”

Ms Mordaunt believes this “is not tenable given the gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang, breaking of the Joint Declaration in Hong Kong, and the aggression of China towards Taiwan.”

In a new hawkish policy she will pledge to conduct a full review of UK-China policy, across all Government departments, with a view to a re-set in policy and a new Government strategy.

Under her the Government will not just have a China Strategy it must have a vision for the Indo Pacific and both must be understood by Ministers.

She also will make it clear that Britain should not let our trade ambitions with other nations be hampered or diluted by China’s views.

In addition, she will ensure the UK places sanctions on those responsible for the repression and diminution of rights in Hong Kong.

Ms Mordaunt will also ensure the UK places additional sanctions on the most senior officials responsible for the human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

A source close to her said: “We have not gone far enough in this area, nor sanctioned the most senior Chinese officials responsible.”

There will also be a prohibition on UK firms and public sector bodies from conducting business with, investing in, or entering into partnerships with Chinese firms aiding the human rights abuses in Xinjiang, especially technology companies, to ensure that UK companies do not provide either support or financing for further technology-enabled human rights abuses.

This follows concerns about the way British universities in particular have pursued funding from the Chinese Communist Party regime.