VOA: ‘Beijing Critics Praise British Envoy They Once Faulted’

On 17 March 2021, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive was quoted in the VOA on British envoy in China.  

The VOA report says that Caroline Wilson, British Ambassador in Beijing was criticized for showing too much deference to China in September 2020, immediately before she headed to Beijing to take up her post. Six months later, Wilson is being applauded for standing up for a cherished democratic principle, even as she is singled out by her Chinese hosts for violating diplomatic protocol and lecturing national authorities.

Commenting on this, Benedict Rogers said:

“The two incidents reflect less a change of heart by Wilson than an underlying dissonance that exists in all of Britain’s dealings with China.

The contrasting episodes “symbolize the tension and the almost sort-of slightly schizophrenic approach of British policy toward China.”

“I think it is one of the greatest debates of our time will be how much the government itself will be able to walk this tightrope of defending our values but at the same time preserving such a high priority on trade.”   

Full article: https://www.voanews.com/europe/beijing-critics-praise-british-envoy-they-once-faulted

(Photo: Caroline Wilson’s Twitter via VOA)