Trade Minister Twice Met With Firm Accused of Violating Sanctions on Secret China Trip – Guido Fawkes

Trade minister Douglas Alexander met with a firm accused of violating sanctions on his secret trip to China. No wonder it was kept quiet in the UK…

During his five-day trip to Beijing and Haikou Alexander attended two events with Lu Haiqing, the Global Vice President of InterContinental Hotels Group – owners of Holiday Inn. Co-conspirators may remember that IHG has been accused by human rights campaigners of violating sanctions by operating hotels in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China – occupied by the Uyghur Muslim minority. Which is subject to mass surveillance, religious repression, forced labour…

A report by the Uyghur Human Rights Group accused IHG in the same month as the trip of operating hotels in areas overseen by a sanctioned government paramilitary organisation – the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

“These hotels do not operate in isolation from these abuses, but function within a system of state control that weaponises the tourism industry in order to present the region as ‘normal’ and open for international business and investment.

Promotional materials from these hotels ignore this context, implying that business can be conducted amid genocide.

The presence and expansion of these hotel chains aligns with state-driven efforts to normalise repression and obscure the reality of atrocities.”

One event at which the IHG president was present was a lunch with UK Businesses in China to “hear British business concerns and opportunities in the China market and to discuss HMG plans to support growth.” Another – a “Meeting with Party Secretary of Hainan Province” – was stuffed with CCP government personnel. Party secretary, vice governor, mayor, foreign affairs officials, the “Director of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports”…

When previously contacted by The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail IHG did not respond to requests for comment on the accusation of sanctions violation. Back in the day Labour was robust on China’s conduct. It U-turned on its proposal to get a formal recognition of genocide in Xinjiang…

Curiously Alexander only travelled alongside one official – they purchased £7,453 business class flights for the trip and stayed in a hotel. The sanctions against China – announced in 2021 – were co-ordinated with the US, Canada, and EU. The White House may take a dim view of Labour’s secret hobnobbing…

Luke de Pulford, human rights activist and executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, tells Guido:

“It’s troubling that a company accused of profiting from anti-Uyghur atrocities would enjoy privileged access to senior ministers. In opposition Labour were resolute in their support of Uyghurs. If this is a due-diligence failure the Government should own up to it and distance themselves.”

A sad turn from Labour…