US Republicans fear UK Chagos Islands deal will boost China

Britain emphasized that its American partners completely supported the decision to transfer control of the islands, which host a covert military installation, to Mauritius.

The UK government has decided to transfer control of the contested islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. | Jean Marc Poche/Getty Images

October 4, 2024, at 2:40 PM Central European Time

WASHINGTON D.C. — Leading U.S. Republicans criticized the British government's choice to hand over control of the Chagos Islands, cautioning that this decision benefits Chinese interests.

Top Republican leaders from both the Senate and House foreign affairs committees raised concerns that the agreement made on Thursday might jeopardize the security of the U.S. and U.K. The British government has decided to transfer control of the contested Indian Ocean island chain to Mauritius, a country that has connections to Beijing and signed a free trade deal with China in 2021.

According to the agreement, the military installation at Diego Garcia, which the U.S. government utilizes for storing navy vessels and long-range bombers, will continue to be under the control of both the U.K. and the U.S. for a minimum of the next 99 years.

The British government emphasized that its American partners fully supported the action, despite a report suggesting that Washington had expressed worries about the decision to the U.K.

However, leading Republican politicians voiced concerns similar to those of British Conservatives, suggesting that yielding to the long-standing Mauritian push for control over the islands might be a poor decision.

Idaho Senator James Risch, a prominent figure on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a supporter of Donald Trump, stated that this action concedes to China's legal tactics and submits to the influence of unaccountable international bodies, such as the International Court of Justice, undermining the strategic and military interests of both the United States and the United Kingdom.

He emphasized that the United States and its partners need to adopt a long-term perspective when making choices related to our strategic rivalry with China; otherwise, we risk losing out.

Texas Representative Michael McCaul, the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the Diego Garcia military base is crucial for countering China and working with allies in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized that it is important for the administration to safeguard U.S. security interests in the area through this agreement.

Conservative intellectuals in the United States have also expressed their opposition to the actions taken by the newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank and a former advisor to British Defense Secretary Liam Fox, remarked, "It's clear that this agreement is advantageous for China."

“Individuals shouldn't find any solace in the fact that the U.S. and the UK are allowed to use the military base in Diego Garcia for 99 years,” he continued. “A clear example of the potential issues that can arise is seen in the regrets and outcomes following the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, which occurred under a comparable agreement.”

"This was the Labour government's first significant mistake in its foreign policy. If I lived in the Falkland Islands or Gibraltar, I would feel somewhat uneasy."

President Joe Biden stated that the agreement serves as a strong example of how nations can use diplomacy and collaboration to tackle enduring historical issues and achieve peaceful solutions that benefit everyone involved.

However, a report from The Times indicated that U.S. officials cautioned the Labour government in the UK against transferring the islands to Mauritius, citing concerns that the Chinese might use them to set up surveillance stations.

A representative from the U.K. government stated: “We firmly dismiss these assertions. This important agreement, which has received approval from the U.S. president and the U.S. Department of State, will ensure the future of the U.K.-U.S. military facility on Diego Garcia.”

"For the first time in more than 50 years, the foundation will be solid and legally sound, enjoying complete support from Mauritius. It is now better shielded than ever against any harmful foreign interference."

Some people were in favor of the agreement. David Vine, the coordinator of the Chagossian advocacy organization Let Us Return USA, remarked that this deal "should have happened years ago."

He mentioned that leaving out Diego Garcia from the Chagossians' right to return was a significant oversight. The U.K. and U.S. removed the islanders when the region was separated from Mauritius.

In an advisory opinion issued in 2019, the International Court of Justice, which resolves disputes between countries, concluded that the separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius did not reflect the genuine and voluntary wishes of the affected population.

It stated that the U.K. must quickly end its control over the Chagos Archipelago.

This report includes contributions from Phelim Kine.

Update: This report has been revised to fix an incorrect job title.