Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said reports that the British High Commission in Mauritius had its phones hacked would prove the Mauritian government is a “bad actor” if true.
Ministers also faced questions on whether British withdrawal from the region had given China an opportunity to extend their influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The Government announced its decision to relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius earlier this month, which they have argued “saved” a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
The Chagos Islands have been in British hands for more than 200 years, but after Mauritius gained independence from France in the late 1960s, the inhabitants of the islands were forcibly expelled to make way for the base.
Since the mistaken opening of negotiations by the last government on the sovereignty of the Chagos islands, it turns out the British High Commissioner and others appear to have been bugged by the government of Mauritius
There have been reports that police in Mauritius are investigating after fears that the British High Commission there had its phones hacked.
During Foreign Office questions in the Commons, Mr Farage told MPs: “Since the mistaken opening of negotiations by the last government on the sovereignty of the Chagos islands, it turns out the British High Commissioner and others appear to have been bugged by the government of Mauritius.
“If the police investigation into this proves to be true, and we can see that Mauritius, their government at least, are bad actors, in the light of that is the 99-year-old lease that you’ve got on Diego Garcia even worth the paper that it is written on?”
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty replied: “Of course, we note the reports with significant concern, but (Mr Farage) understands that I am not going to comment on an ongoing police investigation.
“As I pointed out yesterday, these obviously relate to historical conversations, not during the current round of negotiations, and we are absolutely confident that we have achieved a treaty that meets both our national security objectives, closes off a migration route, but also fundamentally respects the interests of Chagossian people.”
There is absolutely no way that we would have signed off a treaty – nor indeed the United States across the national security apparatus – one that compromised any of our security interests or those of our allies
Mr Doughty was further pressed as to whether China would have an opportunity to exert further influence in the region as a result of British withdrawal.
He insisted there is “absolutely no way” the Government would have relinquished sovereignty over the Chagos Islands if it opened up space for China.
Gregory Stafford, Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon, told MPs: “How can the minister continue defending the ceding of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius when China is rapidly expanding its influence in the Indo-Pacific?
“With no binding agreement against Chinese military involvement in the future, has the Government recklessly compromised British and allied security just to appease vested interests?”
Mr Doughty replied: “I completely reject what (Mr Stafford) suggests to this idea that somehow Mauritius is in hock to China, or somehow opens up a place for China.
“Let me be absolutely clear, Mauritius is one of only two African countries that haven’t signed up to the Belt and Road Initiative.
“There is absolutely no way that we would have signed off a treaty – nor indeed the United States across the national security apparatus – one that compromised any of our security interests or those of our allies.
“And let me be clear, the unequivocal support from the United States president, the secretary of state, to the defence secretary, and across the establishment makes clear that this is the right deal for our security and that of our allies.”
