Question: The Times recently reported that Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, said that China has been using infrastructure investment and debt diplomacy as a means of control over Caribbean countries like Barbados and actively sought to undermine the UK’s historical status as a key partner with these countries. What is the comment of the Chinese Embassy in the UK?

Embassy Spokesperson: We deplore and oppose the comments that distorts China-Barbados relations.

China is committed to developing relations with other countries on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference. It is definitely not China’s tradition to interfere in others' domestic affairs, nor are we interest or willing to do so.

The Belt and Road Initiative has become a popular global public good and platform for international cooperation. Consultation and cooperation for shared benefits is the golden principle for BRI cooperation. In pursuing cooperation under the BRI, China has always been committed to equality, openness, transparency, market laws and international rules. We never impose on others. Each and every project is the result of equal-footed consultations.

In recent years, China-Barbados relations have maintained a sound momentum of development as evidenced by steady high-level exchanges and deepening friendly cooperation. Barbados signed cooperation documents on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative with the Chinese side in 2019. This not only added new connotations to bilateral friendly relations, but also opened up new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Our cooperation is equal-footed and mutually beneficial.

We hope that relevant media reports on BRI development and the cooperation between China and Barbados will be factual, fair and objective.