Rishi Sunak is urged to 'expel Chinese diplomats' over brutal crackdown on ... trends now

Rishi Sunak is being urged to expel Chinese diplomats and take a tougher stance on China following the Communist Party's brutal crackdown of protestors, which included the beating of a BBC journalist covering the events. 

Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg argued diplomats should be expelled, and even suggested the Dalai Lama could be invited on a formal visit to Britain to show that the UK was not a 'pushover'.  

Chinese ambassador Zheng Zeguang was hauled into the Foreign Office over the treatment of BBC journalist Ed Lawrence as he reported on local demonstrations against China's zero-Covid strategy.

Huge demonstrations have erupted across China in recent days in a furious public backlash to the government's restrictive policies, with crowds demanding the government and Premier Xi Jinping stand down.

The protests are the biggest seen since the famous Tiananmen Square demonstrations in 1989, ultimately crushed by the Chinese government with a bloody massacre. 

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Rees-Mogg said: 'Should we not be looking to expel diplomats, to take tougher actions in international forums where Chinese interests are at stake, to do things that the Chinese would not want us to do, like improving our relationship with Taiwan or inviting the Dalai Lama on a formal visit so that we show that we are not a pushover?'

Foreign office junior minister David Rutley said in reply: 'These issues will be raised in a very robust manner.' 

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has also warned the Prime Minister he risks 'appeasing' China by not taking action. 

According to the BBC, camera operator Ed Lawrence was beaten and kicked by police while being arrested when covering the protests in China's biggest city.

Mr Rutley told MPs on Monday: 'We are calling in the Chinese ambassador to make clear the unacceptable and unwarranted nature of these actions, the importance of freedom of speech and to demand a full and thorough explanation.

'We have also been in close touch with the journalist and the BBC throughout to gather the facts and provide consular support.

'We recognise the Covid-related restrictions in China are challenging for the Chinese people and we urge the Chinese authorities to respect the rights of those who decide to express their views about the situation.'

Mr Rutley also described China as a 'systemic challenge' to Britain's 'values and interests'  as he highlighted an ongoing investigation into recent clashes outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester.