Lord Cameron, the UK’s new foreign secretary, has defended his pro-China policy during his time as prime minister, saying that it is still necessary to “engage” with Beijing. In one of his first full interviews since taking office, he stated that China is a crucial partner in solving major issues such as climate change. His comments are likely to anger some Tory MPs, who are pushing for a more hawkish approach towards China.
However, Lord Cameron went on to add that he supports the UK government’s current “realistic, hard-headed policy” towards China. He also denied suggestions that he had become foreign secretary because he was bored, saying that his six-year stint as prime minister had been “a good apprenticeship” for the role.
Lord Cameron has been criticised for his close relationship with Chinese investment in recent years. He has praised a port development in Sri Lanka owned ultimately by a Chinese state-owned company, tried to establish a £1bn China-Investment fund, and held meetings with senior Chinese officials. Some MPs fear that he may push to soften the government’s approach towards China, however Lord Cameron has stated that the country has become much more aggressive and assertive in the intervening years.
Lord Cameron defended his previous policy of seeking a new “golden era” in UK-China relations, saying that the need to boost trade was essential at the time and that the UK must still seek to deal with Beijing on important issues such as climate change. He also suggested that the UK should engage more closely with the European Union on foreign, defence and security policy, saying that the country must be “a friend, a neighbour and the best possible partner”. Lord Cameron gave his full backing to the government’s Rwanda migration policy, expressing a determination to stop boats crossing from Africa
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