Britain criticised over response to China

Amina and Ridwan Shaikh, relatives of Akmal Shaikh who was executed by China this week, have written a public letter in which they accuse the British government of hypocrisy in its dealings with China. They also condemn the UK media with the “exception of Sky News” for drawing attention to Akmal’s plight only as his execution drew near and not many months before, which might have allowed for greater and more sustained political and public pressure against the Chinese.

The media’s failure to draw attention sooner to Shaikh’s plight reveals the subjective ‘entertainment’ status of contemporary news reporting. It should make anyone of good character somewhat queasy to think that such a terrible prospect as the imminent killing of a British citizen by the Chinese was ignored for a very long time.

As individuals we can boycott Chinese goods and visits to the country itself, if we believe a boycott to be an appropriate and necessary response, but our leaders will never countenance sanctions against China. This refusal to act is yet another way in which our politicians are exposed as fraudsters and liars.

The British government has made clear there will be no formal diplomatic retaliation beyond criticism. It’s as likely to encourage change as Lady Gaga is likely to turn up on stage covered up wearing a duffle coat, preaching celibacy.

The Spicy Cauldron, in common with millions of other Western websites, is banned in China. I’m that scary, apparently. And of course I’m subversive to the core. But it’s a lot more scary to me when our government fails to defend a fellow citizen against a corrupt and paranoid regime abroad, and allows him to be killed.

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