Diane Abbott was wrong to share an online platform with apologists for China's atrocities against Muslim Uighurs. But this saga again underlines the grotesque double standards applied to a) the left and b) a Black woman.
Tony Blair is a former Prime Minister - obviously far more influential than Diane Abbott - and is guilty of two things:
1) Direct apologism for Chinese atrocities in Xinjiang province
2) A relationship with China's regime
1) Direct apologism for Chinese atrocities in Xinjiang province
2) A relationship with China's regime
In 2014, in an interview with a mouthpiece of China's regime, Blair made common cause between the West and China's "counter-terrorism" drive in Xinjiang, and denounced "double standards" applied to China which "is facing the same problem as we are facing." https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/866551.shtml
This 2016 article published by the Tony Blair's Institute for Global Change is full of apologism for what should be straightforward and unequivocal condemnation of atrocities committed in Xinjiang by the Chinese dictatorship.
https://institute.global/policy/who-are-uighurs
https://institute.global/policy/who-are-uighurs
Blair has demonstrable links with China's regime, in this case courting their leaders on behalf of a company owned by a Saudi prince https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/28/tony-blair-chinese-leaders-saudi-princes-oil-firm-middle-east-envoy
Tony Blair denies being linked to these "powerful pro-China lobbyists", so it's really unfortunate he's been photographed at one of their meetings https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/photograph-links-tony-blair-to-pro-china-48-group-club-qwj7cxh98
This article extensively details Tony Blair's business empire in China https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/investigations/how-tony-blair-built-a-business-empire-in-china/
While there is ample evidence of Tony Blair defending China's "counter-terrorism" operation in Xinjiang, there is no evidence of him condemning the atrocities, merely warning against a new Cold War with China earlier this year. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/tony-blair-warns-against-new-cold-war-with-china-39314952.html
Tony Blair has worked for multiple human rights abuses, including Egypt's murderous regime and being paid millions to advise the dictatorship of Kazakhstan, including offering PR advice after 15 protesters were killed by the regime. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/24/tony-blair-advice-kazakh-president-protesters
Tony Blair has been paid millions by the Saudi dictatorship, which beheads dissidents and gays, treats women abominably, bans all forms of democracy, murders journalists, and carpet bombs Yemen. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/21/tony-blair-advising-saudi-government-9-million-deal-country/
There is no outrage over Tony Blair, no demands for disciplinary action, let alone apologies.
And yet many of his acolytes and cheerleaders and defenders today denounce a left-wing Black woman who a) is far less influential and b) has done nothing even remotely as bad.
And yet many of his acolytes and cheerleaders and defenders today denounce a left-wing Black woman who a) is far less influential and b) has done nothing even remotely as bad.
Finally, anyone on the left who is an apologist for the atrocities committed by China's regime against the Uyghurs is a political and moral disgrace.
You should be consistent: fight human rights abuses committed by the West, by the West's allies AND by China.
The end.
You should be consistent: fight human rights abuses committed by the West, by the West's allies AND by China.
The end.