UK Parliament Bans Chinese Delegation from Paying Respects at Queen's Funeral Site

Last Year, Chinese Ambassador Banned from Entry for One Year Due to Sanctions on Chinese Lawmakers

Funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II heading towards St. Giles Cathedral
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] According to BBC, the Chinese government delegation was refused when they attempted to pay respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, which is lying in state at Westminster Hall in London on the 16th (local time).

According to BBC and others, Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, denied the Chinese delegation's request to access Westminster Hall, where the late Queen Elizabeth's coffin is placed. Hoyle explained that this decision was made in response to China sanctioning members of the House of Commons.

Britain and China have been clashing over issues such as Xinjiang Uyghur, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Last year, when the Chinese government sanctioned seven British MPs who mentioned human rights issues in Xinjiang, the UK Parliament responded by banning Zheng Zeguang, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, from entering the parliamentary precinct.

BBC explained that China's actions led to the UK barring the Chinese Ambassador to the UK from Parliament, which then expanded to the Chinese funeral delegation. It added that relations between the UK and China are already tense, and this ban is unlikely to help.

China has been invited to the funeral of the late Queen, which will be held on the 19th. The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey, the chapel right next to Westminster Palace, where Elizabeth II was crowned.

The UK government did not send invitations to Russia and six other countries but did send an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is reported that China will send Wang Qishan, Vice President of the State and not a member of the Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee, instead of President Xi. Within UK political circles, there are even calls not to invite China to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral at all.

In particular, British MPs who have been sanctioned by the Chinese government have expressed concern over China being invited to the Queen's funeral.