British Armed Forces chief praised China in secret speech
The head of the Armed Forces praised China in a secret speech in Beijing, it has emerged.
Adml Sir Tony Radakin hailed the Communist state as a 'responsible nuclear power' in an unpublished address in April.
The Chief of the Defence Staff was in China on a visit that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) planned not to disclose to the public.
In the speech, which was only released after a Freedom of Information request, Sir Tony said Britain 'respects China'.
The Armed Forces chief also told the audience of trainee Chinese military officers that Britain desired a 'constructive relationship, and an open dialogue between us', The Times reported.
'The more we talk, the more we will find our common interests and approaches to transnational challenges,' he said.
The MoD and China's embassy in London declined to release the speech publicly.
Sir Tony accused Russia of 'irresponsible nuclear rhetoric' in the speech, which he said should be of concern to both Britain and China.
'This [Ukraine war] is more than struggle over borders on a map. It is a challenge to global order. The chaos and instability unleashed by Russia is being felt by countries near and far,' he told the People's Liberation Army National Defence University in Beijing.
The Armed Forces chief was criticised for the visit to China.
It marked the first time in 10 years that a UK official of his rank had travelled to Beijing for talks.
Sir Tony and members of China's central military commission discussed 'issues of common concern' during the visit on Wednesday, according to the country's defence ministry.
However, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, described the Chief of the Defence Staff's trip as 'terrible', and an act of 'appeasement'.
Sir Tony said he had visited China to discuss 'a range of security issues'.
'We agreed that, in an unstable world, we must play our part as responsible nations with global interests, and we reflected on the importance of military-to-military communications,' he said.
The MoD did not appear to publicise the visit.
The last time a chief of the defence staff visited China was in 2015, when Gen Sir Nicholas Houghton travelled to the country during a period of good relations.
Gen Liu Zhenli, a member of China's central military commission, was among those who held talks with Sir Tony during his visit.
His trip followed a similar visit by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, to the country at the end of last year.
Sir Keir Starmer has yet to visit Beijing as Prime Minister, although it is understood a trip is being planned.
The MoD was approached for comment.
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