US Secretary of State Urges UK to Join Anti-China Alliance

Strategic Insights -

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called on Britain to join a broad alliance against China, amid growing geopolitical tensions between western nations and Beijing. Pompeo held "candid" meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer in London, discussing issues such as the mistreatment of Uighurs in north-west China and the UK's new sanctions regime, the British Magnitsky Act. The US has taken an increasingly combative stance against China this year, with Pompeo previously indicating that Britain should choose whether to ally with Beijing or Washington.

Key Takeaways:

  • US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Britain to join a "broad alliance" against China, citing concerns about China's actions and the need for the international community to hold China accountable.
  • Pompeo met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer in London, discussing issues such as the mistreatment of Uighurs in north-west China and the UK's new sanctions regime.
  • The US has taken an increasingly combative stance against China this year, with Pompeo previously indicating that Britain should choose whether to ally with Beijing or Washington.
  • The meeting also covered the UK's decision to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, as well as the issue of Huawei technology in 5G mobile networks.
  • The Trump administration has already placed sanctions on several top Chinese Communist party officials over their involvement in the detention of over 1 million Muslim Uighurs in reeducation camps in Xinjiang province.
  • Pompeo and Johnson discussed Hong Kong, rising tensions with China, and the prime minister's decision to instruct UK telecoms operators to remove Huawei technology from their 5G mobile networks by 2027.

Statistics:

  • Over 1 million Muslim Uighurs are detained in reeducation camps in Xinjiang province (Trump administration, no source).
  • Britain has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong (No source).
  • The US has placed sanctions on several top Chinese Communist party officials over their involvement in the detention of over 1 million Muslim Uighurs in reeducation camps in Xinjiang province (No source).
  • US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has previously indicated that Britain should choose whether to ally with Beijing or Washington (No source).
  • The UK has instructed telecoms operators to remove Huawei technology from their 5G mobile networks by 2027 (Pompeo, no source).

Sources:

  • Laura Hughes and George Parker London Katrina Manson Washington US secretary of state Mike Pompeo urged Britain to join a "broad alliance" against China as the UK government faces renewed pressure to impose sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for the oppression of Muslim Uighurs.
  • Speaking at a press conference, Mr Pompeo said: "We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country including China behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order."