Conflict resolution v Tributes - Where should liberals draw the line?
Newsletter 13 February 2025
Dear Friends,
As liberals, we want conflict resolutions in a challenging world. But where should we draw the line so that our actions don't push more allies into Beijing's patronage - which will pull societies further into authoritarianism? |
Fresh out of University, one of my involvements in Australian politics was working for the MP in the Division of Curtin. It was the time towards the realisation of the golden era of Australian & Chinese relations which started with Australia's mining boom and Trump's first term as President. One of the discussions was Turnbull's phone call with then-president-elect Trump on the refugee deal made with Obama. Mike Pence had just warned Turnbull ahead of the first phone call with Trump never to engage Trump on taking in Australia's refugees in legal limbo from Howard's Pacific Solution. Turnbull, a businessman himself, ignored Pence's warning. The result was not grave for Australia's foreign relations with the US, which my MP has to deal with in her term. The refugees were accepted by the US and Australia got a reprieve from tariffs on aluminium which was bragged about in Trump's first campaign. With his stance on Trump set, Turnbull focused on re-engaging with China. As a banker, he fully understands the benefits of economic liberalism in China during the 1980s. He has nuanced views on doing business in China. In Government, he and Julie Bishop moved to address Australia's national security and strengthened anti-foreign interference legislation. Meanwhile, in pursuing mutual respect with Beijing, no exemptions were made to ensure Australia's and her allies' network of resilience and the rule of law. Turnbull emphasised the reality of trade and the growth of China. First, Liberals believe in free trade and a dependency on protectionism is bound to fail. The kind of Trumpian tariff, or should I say the tariff rhetoric of William McKinley, will be a stagnant growth trap. Secondly, a growing superpower will always project beyond its shores. This will include culture, its beliefs in the way of life and military power. Yet, understanding these harsh realities does not mean ignoring China is determined to defeat the balance of power that kept us in a rules-based international order for the past 80 years. First, Turnbull’s anti-foreign interference laws were written and designed for Chinese interference. Secondly, he emphasised no logical navy will venture into 12 nautical miles of your neighbour’s waters or into the sovereign waters of a country you trade with. Such aggression must be admitted as expansionism which the world has come to learn must halt in its tracks from the disasters of two world wars. So, learning from this history, is the new Labour government able to draw a line where we do not initiate warmongering but do stand up to challenges and ensure policies will not force our allies to pivot into China’s sphere of influence which will only draw societies closer into authoritarianism? UK’s China strategy review is at least five years behind Australia. Former Conservative ministers (and prime minister) are consulting for Chinese companies which build seaports beyond the necessary capacity that wasted no time in inviting Chinese naval ships as their first customers. Meanwhile, Labour promised in their manifesto they are committed to a defence review and a security audit. Both of which have no significant progress. Worse, the effort is seen as Angela Rayner preparing to approve an oversized embassy for China, David Lammy ignored that BBC journalists were pushed out of the press room in Beijing when Chinese journalists are allowed to stay, and Rachel Reeves warming up to receive any Chinese money and trade at any cost. To add to that, there are over 1000 political prisoners held by the Hong Kong authorities – some of whom are British citizens like Jimmy Lai. Free trade is needed to grow the economy, but where is the red line to ensure there is fair trade? It is just as sensible for us not to buy Russian gas due to Russia’s war on Ukraine; as to that we should not accept companies like Shein with ignorance of acceptable labour ethics and human rights exploitation on the Uyghur people in China. Labour’s new ministers should be pushed to U-turn on their warm invitations to have Shein listed on the London exchange. As liberals, we are not against diplomatic talks with Beijing and we do not wish to push challenging regimes into an armed conflict. However, we should not be naïve that these diplomatic talks with result in international treaties that can be relied upon. It is fair that China and Beijing-influenced entities be placed on enhanced tier under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, that we should insist political prisoners in Hong Kong and China should all be released before some cordial relations and we should constantly review Chinese investment to ensure they are on par with acceptable human rights conditions which will not harm the UK industrial strategy. As liberals, we should start pushing for where the red lines should be drawn. |
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Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, wrote to David Lammy ahead of Wang Yi's visit. He emphasised on the national security risk poised by the new Chinese embassy on the boundary of the City of London, Chinese threats against activists living in the UK and a reminder on Labour's manifesto promises for a security review.
1. Ministers are allowing a focus on China-UK relations to dominate over other considerations in the bilateral relationship.
2. The British government is clear about China’s violation of the Joint Declaration and Basic Law by detaining over 1000 political prisoners, including British citizen Jimmy Lai. Liberal Democrats pushes the government on making positive engagement conditional on commitments to respect these.
3. Liberal Democrats are concerned on Labour’s actives support on the Chinese super-embassy. Our foreign affairs spokesperson urges UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to consider the risks of building this Chinese super-embassy in this sensitive location.
4. It is reported that the Government is set to exempt China and Hong Kong entities from the enhanced tier requirements under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, while ignoring the Director General of MI5 warnings.
The letter is available here (click).
| The new mega Chinese embassy |
The proposed new Chinese embassy is huge |
Former Liberal Democrats Councillors have always objected to the embassy, supporting residents' objections. |
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Best Wishes,
Nicholas Chan
Vice-Chair
Liberal Democrats Friends of Hong Kong
