By Luke Ward
London, September 12 – This evening, Wen Jiabao was given a frosty welcome by around 100 Tibetans and Tibet supports as well as Falun Gong practitioners on his arrival in the UK. Chants of ‘China, China, China! Out, Out Out!’ could be heard ringing around Knightsbridge, as protesters gathered outside the famous Harvey Nichols to protest opposite the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where the Chinese Premier is staying. Following Hu Jintao’s visit from 8-10th November last year, the details of Wen Jiabao’s visit were held in high secrecy until the last moment, and as soon as details of where he was staying were leaked, support was mobilised. Wen Jiabao is believed to be in London for further trade talks with the British government, and to improve and develop ties. Following his public attempts in Helsinki, Finland to persuade the Finnish government to lift the EU Arms Embargo ban (placed on China following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989), Wen Jiabao is expected to attempt to persuade the British government to support the ban’s lifting.
Tonight, Wen Jiabao confidently greeted Chinese nationals outside his hotel whilst people protested opposite, in what is surely just a taster of what is to come on Wednesday, when Premier Wen visits Tony Blair on Downing Street. It was outside here, on Whitehall that Tibetan, Taiwanese and Falun Gong protestors faced off against pro-CCP supporters when Hu Jintao visited in November. Dramatic scenes can be expected again, and many more will surely attend to condemn Wen Jiabao for China’s shocking human rights record, as well as the continuing occupation of Tibet. Tony Blair, hoping to recover from one of the worst weeks of his tenure as Prime-Minister, will be under pressure to talk to Wen Jiabao about human rights in Tibet and China as a whole, as well as serious negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, it remains yet to be seen whether or not Blair will once again put money over principles.
