British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty Debate
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Bernard Jenkin
Main Page: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)Department Debates - View all Bernard Jenkin's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty
Bernard Jenkin Excerpts(2 days, 3 hours ago)
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Stephen Doughty
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This Government took early action—even before the conclusion of the deal—to ensure that that route was closed down by the memorandum of understanding that we reached with St Helena, for which I again thank St Helena. Again, Mr. Speaker, I was rightly scrutinised by this House on that. My hon. Friend is absolutely right on that point, and that is why we have done this deal.
Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)
Can the Minister tell the House why he thinks China supports this deal?
Stephen Doughty
I have been very clear on this: the United States, our Five Eyes partners and India support this deal. Mauritius was one of the few countries not to join the belt and road initiative. It is very clear that the deal is in the interests of our security and that of our allies—otherwise, the United States would not have agreed to it in the first place.