Chinese ambassador hails ‘massive achievement’ and confirms Belt and Road plans – after PM claimed Beijing opposed the deal
Sir Keir Starmer has been caught in a “brazen lie” after China sent its “massive congratulations” to Mauritius for securing the multi-billion-pound Chagos Islands deal – directly contradicting the Prime Minister’s claims that Beijing opposed the agreement.
In explosive comments that have sparked a Conservative pile-on, Chinese ambassador to Mauritius Huang Shifang declared that China “fully supports” Mauritius in its “quest to safeguard national sovereignty” over the disputed Indian Ocean archipelago.
The revelation has blown apart Starmer’s defence of the controversial £30 billion agreement, which he claimed was opposed by hostile powers including China, Russia and Iran.
‘MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS’
Speaking at a diplomatic reception at the Chinese embassy in Port Louis on May 27, Ambassador Huang offered “massive congratulations” to the Mauritian government for securing the territory in what she called a “massive achievement.
The ambassador’s effusive praise, reported by Mauritian newspaper Le Mauricien and uncovered by political blog Guido Fawkes, stands in stark contrast to Starmer’s earlier insistence that “our allies — the US, NATO, Five Eyes, India — are in favour” while “against it: Russia, China, Iran.
In her remarks, Huang confirmed that Mauritius would soon join Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, the sprawling infrastructure project advancing China’s global influence.
We want to further enhance co-operation with Mauritius in areas including economy, trade, investment, finance, and infrastructure,” the ambassador declared.
TORY FURY AT PM’S ‘BRAZEN LIE’
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel led the Conservative charge, blasting: “Keir Starmer lied when he claimed China opposed Labour’s Chagos surrender deal. Communist China has been backing Mauritius all the way, and here’s the proof.
Starmer claimed those who opposed his mad plan were aligned with hostile powers — yet China’s own ambassador welcomes it with open arms,” she added.
Conservative peer Lord Kempsell said: “Starmer has been caught in a brazen lie. He claimed ‘Russia, China and Iran’ opposed his Chagos deal. But here, the Chinese ambassador in Mauritius welcomes it and offers ‘massive congratulations. Starmer must retract this claim.”
£30 BILLION PRICE TAG
Under the terms of the deal signed on May 22, the UK will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while paying £101 million per year – totalling £3.4 billion over the initial term – to lease back the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.
However, reports suggest the total cost could reach £30 billion over the full lease period, with some estimates putting the figure as high as £40.5 billion when adjusted for various factors.
The staggering sum comes as the Labour government implements welfare cuts and tells Britons to tighten their belts amid economic challenges.
CHINA TIES DEAL TO TAIWAN
In a particularly concerning development, Ambassador Huang explicitly tied Mauritius’s Chagos claim to China’s One-China policy, drawing parallels between the territorial dispute and Beijing’s stance on Taiwan.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Mauritius to join the Belt and Road Initiative “as soon as possible” to build a “China-Africa community with a shared future.
Critics warn that the deal could allow China to establish a military presence on other Chagos islands, potentially undermining the strategic Diego Garcia base that hosts crucial US-UK military operations.
BUDGET REVELATION
The Mauritian government, led by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam who initially questioned the agreement when he took office, has embraced the financial windfall from the deal.
The timing is particularly beneficial for Mauritius, which faces what Ramgoolam described as a “dire and unsustainable” fiscal situation with public debt reaching Rs 644 billion – almost 90% of GDP.
STRATEGIC DISASTER
Security experts have warned that the deal represents a catastrophic strategic error, with the base at Diego Garcia serving as an “all but indispensable platform” for Western military operations in the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa.
The base has been pivotal for monitoring undersea cables, launching bombing strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, and serving as a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
Admiral Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, described the plan as an “irresponsible act” that risks undermining Western strategic interests in the face of China’s expanding naval presence.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONCERNS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticised the deal as “concerning as it would provide an opportunity for communist China to gain valuable intelligence on our naval support facility.
The controversy adds to pressure on Starmer, who defended the agreement as “absolutely vital for our defence and intelligence, and therefore, for the safety and security of the British people.
‘WHEN LABOUR NEGOTIATES, BRITAIN LOSES’
As Beijing celebrates what it clearly sees as a strategic victory, questions mount over how the Prime Minister could have so fundamentally misrepresented international opposition to the deal.
Patel summed up Conservative fury: “With China getting closer to Mauritius, Keir Starmer and David Lammy’s failure to defend British interests is disgraceful. When Labour negotiates, Britain loses.”
The revelation that China actively supports the Chagos transfer while Starmer claimed the opposite represents not just a diplomatic embarrassment but raises serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgment – or honesty – in defending one of the most controversial foreign policy decisions in recent British history.
Image credit:
“Keir Starmer in Washington” by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
