Britain has given a staggering £71 million of taxpayers’ money to China in one year alone – a country with an economy that’s five times the size of the UK’s.
MPs are reportedly demanding an inquiry into why the aid money was sent, particularly as some of it was used to help Chinese firms better compete with their British counterparts.
With Members of Parliament due to go on their summer hiatus, the Department for International Development’s annual report – in which the aid sums were ‘buried’ – was ushered out quietly this week.
The money was sent out in 2018 in the form of direct aid as well as funding which is distributed by the likes of the UN and EU.
The amount was an increase of 29 percent on the year before.
According to the report, it is being used for teacher training, fighting illegal wildlife trade, off-shore windfarms, supporting human rights and technology education.
It comes as Britain is to cut its global aid budget by £2.9 billion this year due to the economic hit of the coronavirus crisis.
However, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab insists the UK will still meet its commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on international development.
Government sources said that a “line by line” review of aid projects had taken place and what were considered the “40 most vulnerable countries” were prioritised for assistance.
A source told the Daily Mail the “axe would fall” on the likes of China, as a result of the cuts.
The newspaper reports millions in British aid money was channelled via the China Prosperity Fund, which has a budget of £99 million to spend between 2018 and 2022.
It is to “address market failures and weaknesses that impede China’s inclusive economic growth” and “help China’s ongoing transition to an inclusive, sustainable and productive economy”.
A government spokesman defended the expenditure, and said it affords aid into areas “where there is mutual benefit”, investing money “which supports UK interests and creates opportunities for UK business”.
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