The CRG aspires to have a disruptive impact on Sino-British relations
The anti-China camp in the Tory right received a shot in the arm today with the formation of a parliamentary lobby group hostile to Beijings interests in the UK.
The so-called China Research Group (CRG) is calling for a "rethink" in Sino-British relations, especially in the light of the Chinese technology giant Huaweis partially successful bid to develop aspects of Britains 5G network.
There are two senior Tories at the heart of the CRG. Foremost, the group is led by the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee at the House of Commons, Tom Tugendhat.
A former British military intelligence officer, Tugendhat has emerged as the leading Sinophobe in the Tory party.
The groups secretary is Tory MP Neil OBrien, a former special adviser to ex-Prime Minister Theresa May and a former director of the conservative thinktank Policy Exchange.
Tugendhat has seized on the global coronavirus crisis to conduct a propaganda campaign against China.
"Beijings long pattern of information suppression has contributed to the unfolding [coronavirus] crisis ... The [Chinese Communist] party are now using the current emergency to build influence around the world", Tugendhat said in a statement, apparently oblivious to the fact that all countries seek to develop influence.
Ultimately, the aim of the CRG appears to be to apply pressure on PM Boris Johnson to reverse his decision to allow a limited role for Huawei in the development of the UKs 5G network.
Most of the government - in tandem with the British intelligence community - are in favor of Huaweis limited role in the development of the UKs 5G network.
It remains to be seen if CRG can sabotage this consensus and by extension develop a wider and deeper disruptive impact on Sino-British relations.
SOURCE: PRESS TV
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/16379
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