Chancellor Rachel Reeves defends her visit to China, highlighting secured investment but facing criticism over human rights concerns, particularly regarding jailed British citizen Jimmy Lai and the use of slave labor in supply chains.
Rachel Reeves faced criticism over her recent visit to Beijing and Shanghai, where she aimed to secure investment and re-engage with China . While she highlighted securing £600 million in investment for the UK over five years, MPs dismissed it as insignificant compared to the economic challenges facing Britain. Reeves defended her trip, emphasizing the importance of engaging with China as the world's second-largest economy and the UK's fourth-largest trading partner.
She argued that economic growth is a top priority for the Labour government and that engaging with global markets, including China, is crucial for British businesses. However, her visit sparked concerns, particularly regarding human rights issues. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith questioned Labour's re-engagement with China, citing the worsening situation in Hong Kong following the imposition of new national security laws. He also raised concerns about the use of slave labor in China's supply chains, referencing the case of Shein, a fast-fashion retailer accused of sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, where Uyghurs are allegedly subjected to forced labor and genocide. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper criticized Reeves for not demanding Jimmy Lai's release, a jailed British citizen and pro-democracy activist detained in Hong Kong. She argued that the trip was not worthwhile unless it secured Lai's freedom. Reeves defended her engagement, stating that raising these sensitive issues required direct conversations in Beijing. Despite the criticism, she maintained that her trip was necessary to address these concerns and secure economic benefits for the UK
Business Human Rights Rachel Reeves China Investment Human Rights Jimmy Lai Slave Labor Xinjiang Hong Kong UK-China Relations
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