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He has promised to raise concerns over human rights, the dispute with Taiwan, and the treatment of Hong Kong during his visit.<\/p>\n
Mr Cleverly will also press Beijing to lift sanctions on British MPs.<\/p>\n
The visit comes amid speculation that Rishi Sunak will hold face-to-face talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at next month\u2019s G20 summit.<\/p>\n
But the visit will be closely watched by China hawks on the Conservative benches, who have grave security concerns about Beijing\u2019s increasing power and accused the Government of an approach resembling the appeasement of Nazi Germany.<\/p>\n
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said it was the latest stage of \u201cProject Kowtow\u201d.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Outrage as Britain hands China almost \u00a350million in foreign aid<\/strong><\/p>\n Sir Iain, one of the MPs hit by Chinese sanctions, added: \u201cThe problem with our position right now is it smells terribly of appeasement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like we want more business, therefore we don\u2019t want to upset the Chinese too much.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem we have got with that is it\u2019s redolent of the 1930s where we just thought \u2018Just be nice to these people and complain occasionally but don\u2019t do anything\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThe result is, what we end up with is that they think we are just too weak.\u201d<\/p>\n He claimed the UK looked like the \u201csoft underbelly\u201d of the Western alliance to China which Beijing was seeking to exploit through business links and its security apparatus.<\/p>\n Speaking before his visit Mr Cleverly hit back at Conservative party critics, warning that failure to engage with China would be a sign of British \u201cweakness\u201d.<\/p>\n He told the Financial Times he would tell his hosts that Britain welcomed Chinese investment provided it did not create national security concerns, declaring: \u201cThe UK is open for business.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Prime Minister Liz Truss wants Britain to designate China as a \u201cthreat\u201d but Mr Sunak\u2019s government is adopting a softer approach.<\/p>\n Mr Cleverly added: \u201cTo consciously withdraw and not utilise our standing in the world, the authority and voice that we have, that would be seen as a sign of weakness, not a sign of strength.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he could not raise concerns about China\u2019s actions unless he spoke to Beijing directly.<\/p>\n The trip takes place as a new Foreign Affairs Committee report calls on the government to use Britain\u2019s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region to \u201ctemper China\u2019s economic and political expansionism\u201d.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4933607.jpg?r=1693349361352\")
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