Reclaim EC1. 8 May 2021

Below is an article published by Reclaim EC1. Photo:AFP.

Dear Lord Mayor and Chair of Policy, While for some, Uyghur persecution at the hands of the Chinese authorities may be merely abstract, for me and my family, it is all too real. I am writing to you as UK Project Director of the World Uyghur Congress, and on behalf of my community, to implore the City of London Corporation to reassess its relationship with the Chinese government due to the genocide policies it has imposed on Uyghurs.

While the Corporation’s function is to promote trade, rather than engage in foreign policy, it is clear that in today’s world, trade is as much part of foreign policy as defence and diplomacy. Whether intentionally or not, by promoting trade with China, the Corporation is engaging in foreign policy. In the past, the Corporation has justified its relationship with China “on the basis of global standards’’ and expressed a desire to remain apolitical.

Only last January, when discussing Uyghur persecution, the Chair of Policy claimed that ‘I’m really not clear that it’s our place to be actually taking a position … if it came up in a meeting or something then, of course, we’d express our views … [but] when we’re talking about principles for green investment or if we’re talking about asset management links or whatever, we tend to be talking about business issues frankly.”

In the last four years, Uyghur slave labour has become widely integrated into China’s manufacturing industry. By neglecting to discuss or factor in Uyghur suffering during trade talks, rather than remaining neutral, as may very well be the intention, the Corporation by default sides with oppressive Chinese forces. For many years now, the international community has worked with China hoping that doing so might “bring about change.’’. For all those familiar with the region, it is abundantly apparent that these hopes have been frustrated. Employing a ‘business as usual’ strategy when engaging with China will not bring about the changes my people so desperately need. All evidence suggests otherwise. As a UK public authority, the Corporation has a duty to consider more than just profit, especially when commercial interests come at the expense of human rights.

In recent months, the UK has taken an increasingly strong stance in condemning the policies of the Chinese state. In April, Parliament unanimously passed a groundbreaking motion to recognise Uyghur genocide, one of whose components is slave labour, which was recently the subject of a BEIS enquiry. We would encourage the Corporation to consider these developments when engaging with China. Recently, the Corporation stated its desire to remove a statue of a former Lord Mayor and slave owner from the Guildhall. We congratulate this bold move. Condemning slavery, forced labour and exploitation is always the right thing to do. Yet, until the Corporation takes stronger action against the modern slavery many of my fellow Uyghurs are subject to, this action will ring hollow.

The Corporation has long been dedicated to promoting moral business conduct. Individuals who become Freemen of the City of London receive a little book titled “Rules for the Conduct of Life”. It contains guidance like “Be always ready, according to your power, to help the distressed”. It is time for the Corporation to live up to these wise words. The Chair of Policy has said it is a matter for the Corporation’s elected members to determine its overall policy on engagement with China. By this letter, I ask the Lord Mayor, the Chair of Policy and all the Corporation’s elected members to follow Parliament’s lead and implement robust measures to challenge the Chinese government over its atrocity crimes against my people. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely, Rahima Mahmut U.K. Project Director, World Uyghur Congress.