British politicians want same penalties for impunity in China, Africa

Protesters stand behind a display of photographs of prominent Uighur intellectuals detained by China, as they gather across from the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, on October 1, 2020.
 

Photo credit: Frederic J. Brown | AFP

What you need to know:

  • The new proposals, fronted by a number of British politicians from different parties, suggest that petitioners could use UK courts to force their governments to cut important trade ties with other countries.
  • Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the MP fronting the proposals, says the UK must treat trade partners equally by punishing those who violate civil liberties.

British politicians want their government to impose similar penalties for human rights violations on both China and the many poor countries it trades with in Africa.

The new proposals, fronted by a number of British politicians from different parties, suggest that petitioners could use UK courts to force their governments to cut important trade ties with other countries.

The proponents of the amendments say they were inspired by China's alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, and in Hong Kong, and that they want business ties cut should evidence be found to confirm the allegations.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the MP fronting the proposals, says the UK must treat trade partners equally by punishing those who violate civil liberties.

"The government has still not got it [right] on human rights in China. If an African country was doing what China is doing, ministers would be all over it, but because of China's size and influence at the UN, it runs away. It is time we stood up against the abuses underway within China," he told the Guardian last week.

On his Twitter page, Sir Smith added that the UK should not do business with companies associated with violations such as slave labour.

"There must be no place to hide for companies complicit in human rights abuses. Britons deserve transparency so they can make informed choices as consumers."

London’s inconsistency

The UK traditionally sides with the US in imposing sanctions on countries suspected to violate citizens’ rights through suspending developing aid or business ties.

Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Secretary, has in the past accused China of gross violations in Xinjiang.

British politicians fronting the amendments, however, think London has not been consistent with its policy.

The UK has been negotiating continuity trade agreements with countries that initially had deals with the European Union.

After the Brexit vote, the UK is expected to formally leave the UK by December 31.

Countries like Kenya, China and others across the world have been rushing to beat the deadline.

Last week, the House of Lords, which was debating amendments to bilateral trade deals, called for transparency in the continuity deals.

Chinese relations

But some of the proposals fronted by Sir Smith's alliance could test Chinese relations with the UK.

They suggest that human rights groups could sue in British courts for cases of genocide and force their government to cut trade links with affected countries.

Traditionally, such petitions may be filed at the UN.

China has specifically been accused of torturing its minority Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang by forcing them to abandon their religion, sterilising their women or forcing them into labour.

The proposals have seen China fight the torture claims, saying they were meant to tarnish its name.