Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 19: Chinese officials forcibly removed journalists from a G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, drawing widespread criticism. The incident coincided with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s direct confrontation with Chinese President Xi Jinping over human rights violations.
On the diplomatic front, Starmer voiced concerns over China’s treatment of human rights and mentioned sensitive issues such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and sanctions on UK parliamentarians. He specifically highlighted the case of Jimmy Lai, saying, “We are concerned by reports of Jimmy Lai’s deteriorating health in prison.”
The discussion took a dramatic turn when Chinese officials abruptly interrupted and ordered journalists out of the room as Starmer raised these concerns. Press cameras captured the moment, sparking outrage online.
Critics condemned the expulsions, with one netizen stating, “This is absolutely outrageous. Outrageous behaviour by the CCP. But also outrageous that the UK stood by and watched and didn’t attempt to prevent the expulsion of journalists or call it out.” Another observed, “This happened not in China but in Brazil, where Chinese officials were allowed to decide what the press could and could not hear. Jimmy Lai seems to be quite a trigger.”
The timing of the expulsions and Starmer’s remarks was particularly sensitive, as a Hong Kong court is set to sentence dozens of democracy advocates on Tuesday in the largest national security trial to date. Jimmy Lai’s ongoing trial, resuming Wednesday, has also drawn international attention to Beijing’s crackdown on dissent.
Despite these tensions, both Starmer and Xi underlined the importance of maintaining a functional UK-China relationship. “A strong UK-China relationship is important both to our countries and to the wider international community,” Starmer told Xi, even as diplomatic ties remain strained over issues like espionage and Beijing’s tightening control over Hong Kong.
In response, Xi stated his willingness to “break new ground in the China-U.K. relationship,” emphasising a commitment to “mutual respect, openness, cooperation, exchanges, and mutual learning for shared benefit.”
