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Osborne's "golden era" of UK relations with China truly ended between January and July 2020.
Nothing illustrates that better than the debate around the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill.
Osborne's "golden era" of UK relations with China truly ended between January and July 2020.
Nothing illustrates that better than the debate around the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill.
I started covering this beat in Dec '19. Back then, the dominant concern was “what will the UK do about the US-China trade war.”
China didn’t really feature in the Dec. 12 election. And in Jan. Johnson allowed Huawei a limited role in the UK’s 5G network in spite of US pressure.
China didn’t really feature in the Dec. 12 election. And in Jan. Johnson allowed Huawei a limited role in the UK’s 5G network in spite of US pressure.
Things were already changing. First, some MPs rebelled against the govt's decision, but they weren't enough to block it.
Second, the election yielded an intake of Tory MPs more willing to see China as a systemic threat and concerned about supply chain integrity & human rights.
Second, the election yielded an intake of Tory MPs more willing to see China as a systemic threat and concerned about supply chain integrity & human rights.
Covid was the accelerant (but not the only source) for the events that unfolded in the months afterwards. https://www.politico.eu/article/covid-made-china-more-aggressive-former-uk-top-aide-nick-timothy/
So the Telecoms Bill comes up for second reading in the Commons on Jan. 22. Not one mention of China or Huawei. After all, the bill’s aim is to deliver broadband to leasehold properties. Nothing too controversial about that.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-01-22/debates/94A048F8-E4BE-4267-9DB8-E8FE29BC67A8/TelecommunicationsInfrastructure(LeaseholdProperty)Bill
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-01-22/debates/94A048F8-E4BE-4267-9DB8-E8FE29BC67A8/TelecommunicationsInfrastructure(LeaseholdProperty)Bill
On Feb. 11 the Public Bill Committee (feat DCMS’ Matt Warman) meets to debate amendments to the bill. No word from the China rebels yet and no China-related related amendments yet either.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-02-11/debates/51f77e80-0b14-491b-a1ad-236a02afce37/TelecommunicationsInfrastructure(LeaseholdProperty)Bill(FirstSitting)#
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-02-11/debates/51f77e80-0b14-491b-a1ad-236a02afce37/TelecommunicationsInfrastructure(LeaseholdProperty)Bill(FirstSitting)#
But then: March 10, 2020. At third reading in the Commons China is mentioned 39 times and Huawei 122. The voices we now hear all the time on China speak up: IDS, Tom Tugendhat, and Bob Seely, but also freshmen MPs like Anthony Mangnall (CON, Totnes).
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-03-10/debates/1D06FA88-89A1-4451-A445-5F6647D14055/TelecommunicationsInfrastructure(LeaseholdProperty)Bill
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-03-10/debates/1D06FA88-89A1-4451-A445-5F6647D14055/TelecommunicationsInfrastructure(LeaseholdProperty)Bill
Small aside: Unbeknownst to the public, some of these MPs were already planning to launch parliamentary groups that better reflected (in their view) “where Britain was at” on China than existing groups like the APPG on China.
Things start getting worse in Hong Kong in April. Now, China comes up regularly in PMQs and debates. The ranks of the so-called China rebels grow.
Jimmy Lai is arrested on April 18. The fight between pro- and anti-Beijing lawmakers in the Hong Kong legislature happens on May 8.
Jimmy Lai is arrested on April 18. The fight between pro- and anti-Beijing lawmakers in the Hong Kong legislature happens on May 8.
More attention is also given in Parliament to the Uyghurs, in part due to efforts from human-rights-minded MPs and peers like Lord Alton. See mentions in Hansard of “Xinjiang” over time:
(The spike on June 29 happens because IDS gets an urgent question about the Uyghurs.)
(The spike on June 29 happens because IDS gets an urgent question about the Uyghurs.)
On April 24, Tugendhat and Neil O’Brien launch the China Research Group.
On June 4, IDS and others launch IPAC, a more global group that includes Marco Rubio.
These groups do not like each other and will proceed to fight for influence in this space.
On June 4, IDS and others launch IPAC, a more global group that includes Marco Rubio.
These groups do not like each other and will proceed to fight for influence in this space.
CRG also includes Dehenna Davison, Anthony Browne, Laura Trott, Kevin Hollinrake, Alicia Kearns, Andrew Bowie, and Damian Green (also in IPAC).
IPAC's members are listed here. They include Seely, Mangnall, Nus Ghani, Alistair Carmichael, and David Davies: https://ipac.global/team/
IPAC's members are listed here. They include Seely, Mangnall, Nus Ghani, Alistair Carmichael, and David Davies: https://ipac.global/team/
The Telecoms Bill makes its way through the Lords between March 11 and June 29. Baroness Falkner and Lords Alton, Forsyth, and Adonis submit a human-rights-focused amendment.
Lord Alton told me: “You could call it the Huawei amendment, because effectively that’s what this is.”
Lord Alton told me: “You could call it the Huawei amendment, because effectively that’s what this is.”
It becomes clear the government won’t succeed in passing this Bill through Parliament.
At report stage on June 29, after 4 hours of debate, 85 mentions of China, 58 of Huawei, and 37 of Xinjiang, Baroness Barran (DCMS) promises to bring the issue back at third reading.
At report stage on June 29, after 4 hours of debate, 85 mentions of China, 58 of Huawei, and 37 of Xinjiang, Baroness Barran (DCMS) promises to bring the issue back at third reading.
Lord Alton withdraws his amendment. "I am not precious about the wording of the amendment but I am determined about the principle," he tells the govt minister. He calls on her to "produce a human rights threshold with teeth."
https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2020-06-29/debates/D7049ECF-9381-4003-922A-C8A70DF2975F/Debate
https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2020-06-29/debates/D7049ECF-9381-4003-922A-C8A70DF2975F/Debate
And that’s that! No solid word from DCMS on when this bill will come back for third reading or when they will propose their own amendment.
On July 1, the China rebels get their second significant victory: Raab’s offer of BNO status to 3 million Hong Kongers. https://qz.com/1876059/uk-opens-immigration-for-hong-kong-as-china-passes-new-security-law/
And on July 14 they get their third big victory: The UK bans Huawei from its 5G infrastructure and gives operators until 2027 to strip existing gear from their networks. https://qz.com/1879784/why-did-the-uk-ban-huawei-5g-and-what-will-it-cost/
It seems to me like where we are now is a by-product of these 7 crucial months during which Huawei, Covid-19, & Xinjiang completely changed the relationship between London & Beijing. Where it goes now remains to be seen.
Fin. If I forgot something (I'm sure I did), let me know.
Fin. If I forgot something (I'm sure I did), let me know.
