The US and UK find commonality on China

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) –
China was among a range of topics discussed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London Tuesday, VOA News reports. Pompeo arrived for talks only days after Johnson finally decided to exclude Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing the UK’s 5G phone network, a move Washington has been exhorting for some time.

The UK is also in step with the US in regards to its view on the draconian security laws China has imposed in Hong Kong. Britain has now imposed an arms embargo on Hong Kong, to prevent weapons being used for “internal repression.” Britain has also suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong, further signalling the UK government’s displeasure with China’s new security laws.

At a press conference after his talks with PM Johnson, Pompeo expressed US appreciation for the stances the UK has taken on Hong Kong and on Huawei: “I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate the British government for its principled responses to these challenges. You made a sovereign decision to ban Huawei computer 5g networks,” he said.

“We want every nation to work together to push back against the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts in every dimension that I described to you today that certainly includes the United Kingdom includes every country, we hope we can build out a coalition that understands this,” Pompeo added.

China has retorted by announcing that Britain would “bear the consequences” of its actions, VOA News reported. “Now the UK side has gone even further down the wrong road in disregard of China’s solemn position and repeated representations,” a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London said.


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