Britain’s shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, on Sunday emphasized the need to rank China high among the countries posing a national security risk to the UK.
The 52-year-old Indian-origin senior member of the Opposition Conservative Party, led by Kemi Badenoch, expressed concern over recent revelations about an alleged Chinese spy infiltrating Buckingham Palace circles through Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III.
Patel criticized Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Cabinet for prioritizing trade ties with China over the UK’s national security.
“It’s clearly complicated legislation, but China should always be up there,” Priti Patel told The Sunday Times when asked about placing China on a proposed Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. The scheme is intended to require individuals working for foreign powers to declare their lobbying activities to mitigate security risks.
“We’re dealing with an extraordinary regime that for over a decade, quite frankly, has had all sorts of incursions in our country through national security, intellectual property, right down to cyber activity and misinformation. During the COVID period, misinformation, disinformation, were absolutely significant. And then, of course, spies,” she said.
The former Home Secretary voiced her skepticism about the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok, indicating that she would consider following the US in imposing a ban on the app in Britain.
Patel also raised concerns about a planned “super embassy” by China at a site near the Tower of London purchased in 2018. Although the Tower Hamlets Council rejected the proposal in 2022 after objections from police and residents, the application is now under review by UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
“It fills me with absolute horror that Angela Rayner is in charge of making the decision. I think the country should be pretty worried about it too,” Patel told The Sunday Times.
Expressing further apprehensions about Labour’s approach towards China, Patel pointed to Starmer’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 Summit in Brazil last month, hours before the arrest and imprisonment of 45 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.
“I’m just beyond concerned in terms of the direction of travel that Labour is choosing with China for a range of reasons, Hong Kong being one of them. Don’t forget Starmer met President Xi Jinping just hours before 45 pro-democracy activists were arrested and put in prison in Hong Kong,” she said.
As a pro-Brexit advocate, Patel also criticized the Labour government’s stance on fostering closer relations with the European Union (EU). Reflecting on her party’s poor performance in the July general election, she noted her commitment to revitalizing Conservative prospects under Badenoch’s leadership.
“I feel more motivated than ever to put my shoulder to the wheel,” Patel said, expressing her determination to help transform her party’s electoral fortunes and position Badenoch for success in the next polls within five years.
Must Read: EAM Jaishankar Extends Congratulations To Iceland’s New Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin
