China and Hong Kong: Official Visits
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will suspend all visits from (a) Chinese and (b) Hong Kong officials whilst hon. Members are sanctioned by the Chinese Government.
Answered by Catherine West
China's retaliatory sanctions, including against Parliamentarians, are unwarranted and unacceptable. They are incomparable to the sanctions announced by the UK in 2021, which were based on compelling and widespread evidence of serious and systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang. This Government consistently raises the issue of UK Parliamentarians sanctioned by China. The Foreign Secretary has called on China to lift its sanctions including against Parliamentarians at every meeting he has had with his counterpart.
The Government believes that it should engage with China where there are clear UK and global interests. There are currently no plans to suspend all visits from Chinese and Hong Kong officials in relation to sanctions against Parliamentarians.
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