China has hailed the UK’s decision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as a “massive achievement” — directly contradicting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s assertion that Beijing opposed the move.
Speaking at a diplomatic reception in Port Louis, Huang Shifang, China’s ambassador to Mauritius, expressed full support for Mauritius’s successful bid to reclaim the Indian Ocean archipelago. “China fully supports Mauritius in safeguarding national sovereignty,” Huang said, calling the agreement a “massive achievement” and offering “massive congratulations” to the Mauritian government.
The remarks, reported by Le Mauricien, stand in sharp contrast to Starmer’s earlier claims that countries like China, Russia, and Iran had opposed the controversial deal. In a press conference last week, Starmer insisted that “our allies — the US, NATO, Five Eyes, India — are in favour,” while “against it: Russia, China, Iran.”
The contradiction has sparked political fallout in the UK, with Conservative critics accusing the Labour leader of misleading the public. Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: “Starmer claimed those who opposed his mad plan were aligned with hostile powers — yet China itself is now applauding the deal. He’s been caught peddling a lie. Starmer must apologise and retract his baseless slander.”
Under the agreement, the UK has relinquished sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but retains control of Diego Garcia — a key joint US-UK military base — on a 99-year lease. The arrangement, which could cost UK taxpayers billions, has been defended by the government as essential to Western security and strategic deterrence in the Indian Ocean.
Supporters of the deal argue that it safeguards military operations on Diego Garcia while meeting international legal obligations. Critics, however, claim it represents a weakening of British sovereignty and strategic influence, especially in the face of growing Chinese presence in the region.
China’s ambassador also confirmed that Mauritius would soon join the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s global infrastructure and investment strategy. “We want to further enhance co-operation with Mauritius in areas including economy, trade, investment, finance, and infrastructure,” Huang said.
Analysts warn that the BRI expansion to Mauritius — combined with China’s apparent support for the Chagos settlement — may signal a strategic pivot in Beijing’s interests across the Indian Ocean.
Despite the backlash, UK ministers maintain that the agreement ensures continued British control of the waters around Diego Garcia and prevents any foreign military presence on the other islands without UK consent.
