16th September: While sanctions against a number of MPs and peers remain in place, China’s ambassador to the UK has been advised he cannot visit Parliament. On Wednesday, Zheng Zeguang was scheduled to attend a Commons reception sponsored by the all-party group on China. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lord Speaker Lord McFall, however, ruled this out after protests.

It was a “despicable and cowardly” choice, according to the Chinese embassy, that would hurt both countries interests. The embargo comes at a time when tensions between the two countries are at an all-time high, according to the Daily Telegraph. China issued travel bans and asset freezes on five members of parliament and two peers in March, accusing them of spreading false information about the country.

This was in response to the United Kingdom’s decision to sanction Chinese officials for human rights violations in Xinjiang. Despite this, Mr. Zheng was invited to the China parliamentary group’s summer celebration on the Commons terrace pavilion overlooking the Thames. Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, Tom Tugendhat, Nusrat Ghani, Neil O’Brien, and Tim Loughton, the five Conservative MPs sanctioned, wrote to the Speaker last week to express their displeasure.

UK, US, and Australia have formed an alliance to resist China:

In an effort to challenge China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia have created a unique security pact to share breakthrough defense technologies. For the first time, Australia will be able to develop nuclear-powered submarines thanks to the agreement. The Aukus deal will also cover artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and cyber security. China’s expanding power and military presence in the Indo-Pacific concerns the three countries.

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