Surrendering Chagos Islands to the Chinese ally is a dangerous sellout that undermines our security'
Daily Express|October 04, 2024
SIR Keir Starmer was yesterday accused of a "dangerous sellout" after he gave up the militarily vital Chagos Islands to a Chinese ally.
Michael Knowles
Surrendering Chagos Islands to the Chinese ally is a dangerous sellout that undermines our security'

The Prime Minister handed the group of 60 islands in the Indian Ocean territory to Mauritius, prompting accusations of a "shameful retreat" and "surrender".

The Diego Garcia military base which has been used for American bombing missions in the Middle East is located on one of the islands and is leased by the UK to the US.

While the deal to hand back sovereignty includes provisions for Britain and the US to continue using Diego Garcia for 99 years, there are intensifying fears that China could exploit its close relationship with the Mauritians to use some islands to spy on the base.

Analysts also warn it will give Beijing effective control over the Chagos Islands - and many fear the Government could be forced to strike similar deals over the Falkland Islands or even Gibraltar.

Britain will pay an annual sum during the agreement and funding to help benefit Chagossians. Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said: "Handing over our strategically important territory to an ally of China and paying them for the privilege is an act of surrender.

"It has clearly been announced while Parliament isn't sitting to avoid scrutiny.

"But we will fight this dangerous sellout whenever Starmer brings legislation forward to enable it."

Fellow leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat said: "This is a shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed."

Denne historien er fra October 04, 2024-utgaven av Daily Express.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October 04, 2024-utgaven av Daily Express.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA DAILY EXPRESSSe alt
Spurs find their spark in second-half revival
Daily Express

Spurs find their spark in second-half revival

VILLA GO UP IN SMOKE

time-read
2 mins  |
November 04, 2024
Herbie puts aside personal pain to power past Samoa
Daily Express

Herbie puts aside personal pain to power past Samoa

HERBIE FARNWORTH put family heartache behind him to destroy Samoa - and then took aim at Australia.

time-read
1 min  |
November 04, 2024
£1m cable theft gang left BT users with no service
Daily Express

£1m cable theft gang left BT users with no service

A GANG which stole nearly £1million of broadband cable and cut off communications for thousands, have been jailed for a total of 14 years.

time-read
1 min  |
November 04, 2024
Grieving dad demands lifetime ban for killer drink drivers
Daily Express

Grieving dad demands lifetime ban for killer drink drivers

A HEARTBROKEN dad used an appearance on TV's Question Time to campaign for life bans for drink drivers who cause fatal crashes.

time-read
1 min  |
November 04, 2024
Harris surging in bellwether state as women shun her rival
Daily Express

Harris surging in bellwether state as women shun her rival

KAMALA Harris is leading in Iowa where Donald Trump had held a huge lead and comfortably won in 2016 and 2020, a shock poll suggests.

time-read
1 min  |
November 04, 2024
Fans rally to aid Trump's dream
Daily Express

Fans rally to aid Trump's dream

THOUSANDS of Donald Trump supporters paraded their patriotism for one of the former US President's final weekend election campaign rallies.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 04, 2024
John Stapleton on Parkinson's...You learn to live with it
Daily Express

John Stapleton on Parkinson's...You learn to live with it

VETERAN TV journalist John Stapleton is philosophical about living with Parkinson's disease, saying: \"You can't escape these things as you grow older.\"

time-read
2 mins  |
November 04, 2024
'I will keep on trying to end domestic abuse'
Daily Express

'I will keep on trying to end domestic abuse'

Camilla's pledge in landmark ITV film

time-read
2 mins  |
November 04, 2024
Flood crowds throw mud at royal couple
Daily Express

Flood crowds throw mud at royal couple

ANGRY crowds heckled the King and Queen of Spain and pelted them with mud on a visit to a town devastated by floods.

time-read
1 min  |
November 04, 2024
'We ask for change to give us the choice, not to shorten our lives but to shorten our death'
Daily Express

'We ask for change to give us the choice, not to shorten our lives but to shorten our death'

LAWMAKERS have a once-in-adecade opportunity to change Britain's cruel and inhumane assisted dying laws, Dame Esther Rantzen says.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 04, 2024