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Been meaning to do a thread for ages on the global left’s blind spot on human rights issues in China, HK & Xinjiang, & why I’m hopeful that in the UK at least, we’ll see a step-change in @UKLabour’s policy with @LisaNandy as Shadow Foreign Secretary: 1/20 https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/04/lisa-nandy-foreign-policy-positions-labour
First: China is a brutal authoritarian state. See below for a brief charge sheet. Additionally, most workers face an appalling lack of rights & protections, & trade unions are illegal. Incredible anyone who regards themselves as left wing supports the CCP, but there we are. 2/20
But the problem is less that a huge % of people on the left support the CCP (not the case), but instead that there are many, even respected politicians on the left, who are lukewarm on the issue of human rights in greater China & reluctant to criticise the Chinese govt. Why? 3/20
Clearly for some it’s rooted in deep-seated anti-Americanism, & the view that ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ with regard to any FP issue that the U.S. is perceived to have taken a side on. It’s certainly part of the equation but not the overriding reason. 4/20
For many self-interested politicians I think it’s grounded in an obstinate refusal to recognise China as anything other than a benign rising econ. power, & not for the brutal dictatorship it is. If it doesn’t concern your brief, why bother to research/stick your neck out? 5/20
This attitude is exemplified by this summary of a radio interview given by former Labour Shadow Intl Trade Sec. Barry Gardiner (though in his case it might also have something to do with the fact ‘Beijing Barry’ has taken the princely sum of £500,000 from CCP-linked donors). 6/20
It’s just an insane mindset to have when you remember this is literally the situation in East Turkestan/Xinjiang right now: https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1251987822262747137
This attitude of ‘yes China is bad, but…’ followed by launching into a dull & ill-conceived false equivalence stems from a failure to recognise not just the brutal crushing of any dissent (incl. from the left) in China now, but also from the CCP’s historical atrocities too. 8/20
As British-Chinese writer Xiao Hua notes in @LabourList, many on the left are well versed in the atrocities of Stalinism, but not of Maoism (see vid). But whole some don’t grasp the extent of the CCP’s HR violations, others give them little prominence 9/20
This is exemplified by the fact that despite the last 9 months of his leadership coinciding with the protests in Hong Kong (w/ all the accompanying police brutality & repression), fmr Labour leader @JeremyCorbyn never once issued a statement or even a tweet about the issue. 10/20
Many prominent left politicians (e.g. AOC & Bernie) *have* spoken out over HK, but leaving a lot to be desired. Meanwhile, Republican senators incl. Josh Hawley & Ted Cruz have spoken out consistently & both visited HK last year (this piece is great btw
) https://twitter.com/initialvw/status/1251738639446523904?s=21
) https://twitter.com/initialvw/status/1251738639446523904?s=21
But Corbyn’s failure was esp. disappointing given the start of his leadership coincided with Xi’s state visit to the UK in 2015, where (shamefully) he was the only 
politician granted a meeting with Xi who acc. raised the subject of human rights. 12/20 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-raises-human-rights-record-with-chinese-president-xi-jinping-a6701921.html
politician granted a meeting with Xi who acc. raised the subject of human rights. 12/20 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-raises-human-rights-record-with-chinese-president-xi-jinping-a6701921.html
But there’s now a new leadership with @LisaNandy serving as Shadow Foreign Sec. Given the COVID-19 outbreak, Lisa’s been deprived of the opportunity to set out in detail the direction she wants to take Labour’s foreign policy in, but this NS piece is good: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/04/lisa-nandy-foreign-policy-positions-labour
In short, we’re not going to see a wholesale shift away from Labour’s foreign policy under Corbyn, often self-defined as being anti-imperialist, but rather a renewed focus on internationalism and willingness to consider supporting intervention in certain circumstances. 14/20
But we can also expect a renewed focus & willingness to confront FP issues that Corbyn shied away from. Lisa has a long record of being an extremely high respected & thoughtful voice who’s long brought attention to neglected & underrepresented issues, incl. human rights concerns.
Which is why I’m extremely optimistic she will take up the issues of human rights in greater China with real vigour. Hopefully we’ll also see @Keir_Starmer pressure the UK govt on the issue as the noise grows from the Tory backbenches over the UK’s relationship with China. 16/20
Lisa’s also appointed a strong team of shadow foreign ministers, with @SKinnock on the Asia brief, & Labour’s first ever British-Chinese MP @SarahOwen_ apptd as her Parliamentary Private Secretary. I’m confident they’ll hold the FCO’s feet to the fire on human rights. 17/20
It’s important to say too that there are some politicians on the left who have championed human rights issues in greater China for years - massive props to @ewarren @SpeakerPelosi @HelenGoodmanBA @CatherineWest1 @bueti & many many more. 18/20 https://twitter.com/jackhhazlewood/status/1153361470790545412?s=21 https://twitter.com/jackhhazlewood/status/1153361470790545412
Also, if you’re interested in reading more about Hong Kong affairs from left & decolonial perspectives, @lausanhk is awesome. Go follow the volunteers who run it (incl. @wilfredchan @tomatofriedegg @rosemarieho_ @jnchien @hyjpang @promiseli_ @brianhioe @InitialVW @wenliunyc)
Finally, wanted to end on this: https://twitter.com/beijingpalmer/status/1171798468429582338
