Did Theresa May raise human rights with China during her visit to Beijing this week or not? The Chinese press has praised her for not mentioning the most neuralgic issue between China and all visiting officials. Downing Street sources, however, stated flatly that Mrs May raised the issue with both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. The Global Times, a voice of the Chinese Communist Party, said the ‘Sino-UK partnership transcends media mudslinging over human rights…May will definitely not make any comment contrary to the goals of her China trip’. It contended, too, ‘while the government is responsible for public well-being, the media tends to whip up sensations while disregarding sound international relations. Some European media pressed May and Macron on human rights, but the two leaders sidestepped the topic on their China trip. This shows that the Sino-European relationship has, to a large degree, extricated itself from the impact of radical public opinion.’
Before she set off for China, May said she would raise human rights in China with specific reference to Beijing’s pressure on Hong Kong.
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