MANDELSON / CHINA THREAD
As @lukedepulford and @MsMelChen have pointed out, Pater Mandelson had deep links to the Chinese regime.
Over many years he's been the leading voice for the CCP in the UK.
A quick 🧵
For example, when warnings on Huawei's control of our telecoms infrastructure were mounting, Mandelson accused the US of “fomenting hysteria” and warned Europe not to join an “economic and technological iron curtain” around China.
theguardian.com/technology/201…
He's always been quick to make the argument that we needed to get closer to an increasingly "preeminent" China:
It was also hist business. Mandelson co-founded Global Counsel. Its client list has included Chinese giants like TikTok and Shein. But he also had at least one Chinese state-owned company as a client.
In 2024, Global Counsel signed a $3m contract to advise WuXi AppTec after it was swept into a US national-security crackdown.
That is who Mandelson’s firm was helping in Europe.
theguardian.com/politics/2025/…
Now we learn from emails that Global Counsel chased a long, lucrative communications mandate from China International Capital Corporation, a state-owned player.
theguardian.com/politics/2026/…
In 2021 Mandelson chaired a Europe-China business dialogue arranged with CCPIT – described by China experts as part of Beijing’s influence machinery.
The Communist Party’s own readout records Mandelson meeting Liu Jianchao, the Party’s international chief, in Beijing.
idcpc.org.cn/english2023/bz…
Mandelson was listed as a “current fellow” of the 48 Group Club – a secretive network long accused of echoing CCP messaging.
freedomhouse.org/country/united…
Recently as ambassador, he has been "selling" the Chagos deal to the US, despite concerns that the deal will lead to much greater Chinese influence and intel on the US base there.
In the Times recently Mandelson boasted about getting the US onside:
Still, Starmer chose this man & waved him through.
As part of the investigation into his time as ambassador we need answers: every Chinese client, every meeting, every role.
(End of thread)
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