Britain should not be giving £50million of foreign aid to China, minister vows

BRITAIN should not be giving foreign aid cash to China, the development Minister vowed yesterday.

A staggering £50million of taxpayer money was handed to Beijing in 2021 despite the country’s ballooning economy and dire human rights.

Cabinet Minister Andrew Mitchell said he was “surprised” at the giveaway – which occurred before he took office – and pledged to put a stop to it.

He told Sky: “There may be a case occasionally for some joint technical assistance to be deployed, but we shouldn’t be giving aid to China and we’re looking to make sure that aid is best spent.

“There will have to be a very strong case indeed, and it will have to be an open and public case if we’re to spend aid money in China.”

Tory MPs have been pressuring Ministers to cut ties with China over its persecution of Uighar Muslims and increasingly menacing behaviour.

Last week the United States shot down a Chinese “spy balloon” and on Saturday night Canada also downed an unidentified object.

While recognising the fury, Mr Mitchell insisted the UK must “have a relationship with China”.

He said: “We want to make the Chinese government more receptive to and involved in the international system.

“It’s a long term project, but we can’t just cut off all relations with China, but we have to stand up for our values both here and abroad.”

Ministers are currently rewriting the flagship Integrated Review foreign policy plan that is expected to escalate the risks China poses.

The Foreign Office is braced for a row when the Governor of Xingxiang – who is presiding over the Uighur scandal – arrives in Britain.

Last night it is not believed Erkin Tuniyaz had landed in the UK. When he does the Government insists he will be read the riot act by officials.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith last week accused the Foreign Office of a “weak turn” by letting him come to the UK.