Liz Truss has defended the Falkland Islands as “part of the British family” after China backed Argentina’s claim to the South American islands.
The foreign minister tweeted that “China must respect the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands” after Argentine President Alberto Fernandez met with China’s President Xi on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
According to a statement on the website of the Chinese Embassy in London, the two leaders spoke of their “deep friendship” and Argentina signed China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a state-backed campaign for global influence.
But they also signed an accord in which China reiterated its support for Argentina’s claim to the Falklands, while Mr Fernandez backed Xi’s one-China policy, which claims Taiwan as his own.
The statement said Argentina should be able to “fully exercise its sovereignty over the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) issue.”
But Ms Truss said: “We totally oppose any questions about the sovereignty of the Falklands.
“The Falkland Islands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self-determination.
“China must respect the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.”
Chen Weihua, a journalist with China Daily, an English-language Chinese Communist Party newspaper, responded to Ms. Truss by saying, “But is it okay for the UK to challenge China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea by sending naval vessels?
“At least China hasn’t sent its navy anywhere near the Malvinas or the so-called Falkland Islands.”
Xi has also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent days, where leaders have resisted US pressure and declared their opposition to NATO expansion – a key issue amid current tensions on Ukraine’s border.
In a joint statement, they criticized “interference in the internal affairs” of other states, saying in a thinly veiled reference to the West: “Some forces representing a minority on the world stage continue to advocate and resort to unilateral approaches to solving international problems back to military policy.”
China has increasingly supported Moscow in its dispute with Ukraine, which threatens to erupt in armed conflict.
Conservative MP and Chair of the Commons Defense Committee Tobias Ellwood has warned of a rapprochement between China and Russia.
After the leaders’ meeting, he tweeted: “Putin is not in China to discuss the bobsleigh, but to further align Russia from West to East. This is the axis of power that will rule our era.
“Any sanctions we impose will only help Putin in his goal. That is the big picture that we are missing.”
On Sunday, Mr Ellwood added: “With China now on the side – the Russian invasion of Ukraine is now imminent.
“Our window for the West to prevent this is closing fast now.”
Last week he warned in the House of Commons: “Putin is using the Ukraine crisis to realign Russia with China militarily, economically and geopolitically, with massive implications for Western security.”
He said, “This is our Cuban Missile Crisis. I encourage Britain to lead the call to deploy an offensive alliance and stand up to Putin’s aggression.”
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