British parliamentarians who had their sanctions lifted by China on Friday have firmly declared that they will continue to speak out against Beijing's human rights abuses. The travel bans and asset freezes, which had been in place for five years, were removed following direct lobbying by Sir Keir Starmer during his discussions with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Diplomatic Breakthrough Amid Ongoing Tensions
This diplomatic development is widely viewed as a significant step that could potentially clear a major obstacle for the Chinese president's anticipated visit to the United Kingdom for the G20 summit next year. However, the group of parliamentarians, who were previously accused by Chinese authorities of spreading false information after highlighting the mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province, have made it clear that this gesture will not silence their advocacy.
Concerns Over Selective Sanction Removal
The parliamentarians have expressed serious concerns about the selective nature of the sanction removals. They pointed out that sanctions have not been lifted on non-parliamentarians, including former MP Tim Loughton, Essex Court Chambers, Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, the Uyghur Tribunal, the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, and academic Dr Joanne Smith Finley. The group remains uncertain about whether sanctions on their family members are still enforceable.
The collective statement from the parliamentarians, which includes prominent figures such as Tory MPs Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Tom Tugendhat, Labour peer Baroness Kennedy, and crossbencher Lord Alton, emphasised their commitment to representing all British citizens equally. They stated: 'The selective lifting of sanctions solely on sitting parliamentarians is wrong. Parliament exists to represent and defend the people of the United Kingdom. Seeking or accepting preferential treatment for current MPs and Peers sends a damaging signal that some are more deserving of protection than others.'
Political Reactions and Government Assurances
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch offered a sceptical perspective on the development, suggesting that the sanction removals might be a temporary measure to facilitate the Chinese president's parliamentary visit. She remarked: 'I think that this is something that they have done so that the Chinese president can have a visit to Parliament. I wouldn't be surprised if sanctions go back after that... we need to stop being naive and think that if we go on a visit and then they lift sanctions, everything is fine.'
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who was denied entry to Hong Kong last year despite not being on the sanctions list, called for broader assurances from the government. She highlighted the need for all parliamentarians to feel secure in criticising the Chinese Communist Party without fear of retaliation.
Historical Context and Prime Minister's Announcement
The sanctions against these British parliamentarians were originally imposed in March 2021 as a retaliatory measure by Beijing. This came in response to the United Kingdom adding four Chinese government officials to a targeted list over alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made the unexpected announcement about the lifted sanctions during broadcast interviews on Friday, addressing concerns about hosting the Chinese leader while British MPs remained under restrictions.
Sir Keir explained his approach during interviews with multiple news outlets, stating: 'I know that the action taken in relation to our parliamentarians has been a real cause of concern, understandably so. And therefore I raised that issue whilst I was here, and the Chinese are absolutely clear in response, the restrictions no longer apply.' He defended his decision to engage directly with Chinese leadership, arguing that such diplomatic exchanges yield tangible results that would not be possible through avoidance.
Continued Solidarity with Uyghur People
The parliamentarians reiterated their unwavering support for the Uyghur community, emphasising that their advocacy would continue despite the sanction removals. They stated: 'While British citizen Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned, and Uyghurs continue to suffer atrocity crimes, we take no comfort in this decision and will not be silenced.' The group called for urgent government assurances regarding other individuals who were sanctioned alongside them and reaffirmed their ongoing solidarity with the Uyghur people.
The Chinese foreign ministry responded to the developments by announcing: 'The two sides agreed in principle to resume normal exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries. China welcomes British parliamentarians who have the willingness to visit China more and experience the real China.' British sources have insisted that there was no reciprocal agreement in this arrangement and confirmed that the United Kingdom has maintained its sanctions against Chinese officials.
