Foreign Sec slaps down criticism of China visit insisting he won’t ‘shy away’ from ‘tough’ talks with communist chiefs

DEFIANT James Cleverly defended jetting off to China today, insisting Britain shouldn’t “shy away” from “tough conversations” with communist chiefs.

The Foreign Secretary met with counterparts in Beijing for talks early this morning.

AFP

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng shake hands before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing[/caption]

AP

Tory China hawks have criticised Mr Cleverly for visiting China without a proper strategy in place[/caption]

In a face-to-face chat with Vice President Han Zheng, Mr Cleverly said meetings are important “to enhance understanding” and “to avoid misunderstanding”.

His visit marks the first by a UK Foreign Secretary in five years.

It comes against the backdrop of a crackdown on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong and the oppression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Tory China this morning hawks lashed out at Mr Cleverly over the trip.

Former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith compared the Government’s approach to China to the appeasement of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

But a defiant Mr Cleverly defended the talks.

He said: “It is important that countries like ours meet and speak face to face on regular occasions to enhance understanding, to avoid misunderstanding and to address the challenges and differences of opinion that all countries have in bilateral relations.

“Engaging with China doesn’t mean that we shy away from the tough conversations.

“It’s about voicing our concerns directly – face to face. That’s why I’m here.”

It comes as MPs today warned that Britain is cosying up to communist China without a proper game plan.

A new report from the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said ministers and Whitehall chiefs are shifting focus away from the Middle East and towards the Indo-Pacific without a coherent strategy in place.

The report argued that while concentration on the region is welcome, MPs must be told what ministers want to achieve out of building ties with China. 

Committee Chair Alicia Kearns argued there is “confusion across Whitehall about the Tilt to the Indo-Pacific, stemming from a failure to explain the policy”.

She said: “For many years, the Foreign Affairs Committee has advocated the need to balance economic cooperation with caution in the UK’s dealings with China.

“Recent Foreign Office announcements indicate that Ministers are listening to the Committee.

“However, there is still too much unsaid. The confidential, elusive China strategy is buried deep in Whitehall, kept hidden even from senior Ministers across Government.”