Let the great kow-tow begin – again. David Cameron, the new Foreign Secretary, is well-known for his attempt to create a ‘golden era’ in Anglo-China relations when prime minister. This essentially meant turning a blind eye to Chinese misdeeds and espionage on the condition that Beijing kept pumping money into the British economy.
But it’s his China-related activities out of office that invite even more scrutiny, especially now that he’s back in government.
Just a few weeks ago, in September, the former prime minister flew to Sri Lanka to speak in support of Colombo Port City project, a controversial venture that is meant to establish Colombo as a Chinese-funded rival to Singapore and Dubai. China critics fear that, as with Gwadar in Pakistan, Colombo will become a security risk as China expands its reach across Asia.
Cameron’s office said his Colombo visit was organised by the Washington Speakers Bureau, a D.C.-based
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