Latest news with #SirIainDuncanSmith
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Government facing ‘walk of shame' over Chinese embassy decision
Plans for a Chinese super-embassy in central London have become a 'walk of shame' for the Government, a former leader of the Conservative Party has said. Sir Iain Duncan Smith said response by the Government to the proposed embassy near the the capital's financial district had become 'Project Kowtow', as he criticised the Government for 'one denial after another (and) one betrayal after another'. Sir Iain referred to the warnings reportedly issued by the White House and Dutch government to Downing Street over the plans, which is set to be scrutinised by ministers. The worries stem from the close proximity of the proposed embassy's Royal Mint Court site to data centres and communication cables. The Sunday Times said the US was 'deeply concerned' about the plans, quoting a senior US official. In response, planning minister Matthew Pennycook said he could not give a full response as the matter was still to come before the department for a decision, and any verdict could be challenged by the courts. Sir Iain said: 'Beijing has a recent history of cutting cables and confirmed infrastructure hacks, including embedding malware capable of disabling all that infrastructure. 'Minister Peter Kyle yesterday on television said surprisingly that this was in the planning process and could be managed. Will the minister correct this record? The planning inquiry has concluded, no changes can be made to the Chinese planning application at all. 'I'll remind him the application contains nothing about cabling. Indeed to the inquiry, the Chinese have rejected only two requests, which he referred to actually, made by the Government in the letter from the foreign and home secretaries, despite ministers regularly saying that this letter, and I quote, should give those concerned, 'comfort'.' The Conservative MP said rerouting the cables would cost millions of pounds, and asked Mr Pennycook why the Government had denied the existence of cables until the White House confirmed it. He asked Mr Pennycook to deny reports by Chinese state media, saying the UK had given the Chinese assurances that it would allow a development 'no matter what'. He added: 'I see this as Project Kowtow, one denial after another, one betrayal after another. No wonder our allies believe that this Chinese mega embassy is now becoming a walk of shame for the Government.' Mr Pennycook replied because of the 'quasi-judicial nature' of his role, he could not comment on details of the application. He also said it would not be 'appropriate' for him to comment on the cabling or national security issues. He said he did not 'recognise the characterisation' by the Sunday Times of the embassy being raised in talks between the UK and China on trade. 'It is important to also emphasise that only material planning considerations can be taken into account in determining this case,' he said. 'But, as I say, I cannot comment in any detail on a case and it is not yet before the department.' Tory shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said Parliament had been treated with disdain by the Government. Mr Hollinrake said: 'Question after question, letter after letter, the Government has consistently treated Parliament with complete disregard on this matter. Stonewalling legitimate inquiries about national security, about ministerial discussions, and warnings about security bodies.' He added: 'Why won't the Government follow the examples of the US, Australian, and Irish governments which veto similar embassies that threaten their national security? 'The Government is on the verge of making a decision that will lead to huge risk, that will persist for decades. Will they change course before it is too late?' Mr Pennycook replied: 'No decision has been made on this case. No application is yet before the department.' Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said: 'China has a track record of aggressive state-backed espionage, and surely this country cannot afford to make a massive underestimation of what risk if this would go ahead?' She added: 'We cannot not say anything in this House. We must comment on what we see, and please understand that we must do so.' Meanwhile, former security minister, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, asked whether the Government believed the Chinese would treat a similar application in the same way. He said: 'Do you honestly believe that thr minister thinks that the Chinese would look at this proposal in the same way? 'Do we actually in this House believe that our economic security being threatened, as highlighted by the Americans and the Dutch, would go through a bureaucratic planning process with no ability to vary it because, frankly, them's the orders? 'I don't think that's the way China would do it, and it's certainly not the way we should.' Mr Pennycook replied: 'I'm very glad that we have a different and more robust planning system than the People's Republic of China.' Later in the session, Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) asked if the officer considering the case is 'cleared to receive top secret information'. Mr Pennycook replied: 'A planning inspector is assessing the case as part of a public inquiry. 'And I'm afraid, while I recognise why (Mr Jopp) has asked the question, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on national security matters.'
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Holiday Inn owner accused of profiting from Uyghur 'genocide' as it expands operations in controversial Chinese region
The luxury hospitality brand which owns Holiday Inn must rethink their decision to operate in a Chinese region where a genocide is said to be taking place, senior parliamentarians have demanded. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith is among those to have signed a cross-party letter to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) demanding answers over the company's activities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China. Beijing has been accused of subjecting the region's Uyghur Muslim minority to mass surveillance, forced labour and religious repression. But recent research by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has shown that IHG, which is headquarted in Windsor, is currently operating four hotels in the area, with at least another 16 set to open in the coming years. The revelation has prompted MPs from a range of parties to question IHG's choice to do business in the region. As well as Sir Iain, the signatories included Labour MPs Blair McDougall, Marie Rimmer and Alex Sobel, the SNP 's Chris Law and peers Lord Mackinlay, Lord Shinkwin, Baroness D'Souza and Baroness Meyer. In a letter seen by MailOnline, they wrote: 'In such an environment, it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for foreign businesses to operate without the risk of benefiting from or contributing to state-led human rights abuses. 'Continued commercial presence in such a context risks signalling tacit endorsement of policies that the UK Government and others have condemned. 'Given growing legal and reputational risks associated with corporate presence in Xinjiang, we strongly urge your company to reassess your operations in the region. 'We respectfully request a formal response to the questions above and appreciate your attention to this issue.' The UHRP report says that five international hotel chains, including IHG, Marriott and Hilton, are all operating in the XUAR. IHG has hotels in areas administered by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), under targeted sanctions by the UK, US, Canada and the European Union for human rights violations. Restrictions have also been imposed in the UK to ensure British organisations are not complicit in, nor profiting from, human rights abuses in Xinjiang. But by conducting business in the XUAR, IHG may be considered to be profiting from tourism in the region where broad suppression is taking place. In a page now deleted on their website, IHG advertise two Holiday Inn Express hotels with the tagline: 'Searching for a hotel in Xinjiang? IHG Hotels & Resorts has the perfect hotel for your upcoming trip to Xinjiang. 'Our hotels are dedicated to providing exceptional service and a memorable stay for every guest. 'Whether you're seeking luxury, boutique, or budget-friendly accommodations in Xinjiang, we have a hotel brand that will exceed your expectations. 'Discover the perfect IHG hotel in Xinjiang and create unforgettable memories during your visit. Book your stay with us today and let us make your trip exceptional.' Luke De Pulford, Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, told MailOnline: 'With abuses rife throughout Xinjiang, only those who really don't care about the human cost are seeking to expand. It's simply impossible for companies to do meaningful human rights due diligence in the region. 'It's "hear no evil, see no evil". With companies like this, customers should vote with their feet.' The Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center in Xinjiang, believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained As well as Sir Iain, the signatories included Labour MPs Blair McDougall, Marie Rimmer and Alex Sobel, the SNP 's Chris Law and peers Lord Shinkwin and Baroness Meyer Overall, at least 115 hotels from various international brands were operational as of last month, with another 74 in various stages of planning. Several world governments and legal groups have declared the government's actions against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to be a genocide, although this has not been settled in any international court. Beijing is attempting to promote Xinjiang as a tourist destination after years of criticism and scrutiny over its treatment of Uyghurs. In 2024 Xinjiang recorded around 300 million visitors, according to state media, including five million foreign tourists – 50 per cent more than in 2023. The UHRP says that 'many of the newly opened and planned hotels in East Turkistan are not only standard business accommodations located in major cities, but large luxury resorts designed to attract high-end travelers.' In IHG's case, this includes an InterContinental Hotel in Ghulja City later this year. IHG were also accused of hosting state propaganda events and promoting state narratives of Uyghur identity, traditions, and culture. The report says: 'The presence alone of international hotel chains in a region undergoing crimes against humanity and genocide is morally indefensible. 'By offering high-end accommodation and leisure spaces, international hotel chains contribute to a sanitised image of the region, one that directly serves Beijing's propaganda objectives.' Dr. Henryk Szadziewski, co-author of the report and Director of Research at the UHRP, added: 'International hotel chains continue to operate and expand their hospitality businesses in a region where Uyghur families have been torn apart by internment, imprisonment, and forced labor. 'By helping to portray the region as a normal travel destination, international hotel chains risk enabling the ongoing persecution of the Uyghur people.'
