Protests take back seat as Britain ramps up pomp for Xi visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping began his visit to Britain with a great show of strength after being greeted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in a lavish welcoming ceremony, drowning out human rights protests.

Array

According to The Guardian, the few hundred rights protesters were vastly outnumbered by huge welcoming crowds.

Array

The protesters were split between members of the Falun Gong spiritual group, banned and repressed in China, Tibetans and other activists.

Array

The protesters chanted loudly but were often drowned out by shouts and drumbeats from the much larger Chinese groups surrounding them.

Array

The critics have argued that Britain has sacrificed international law and positions of principle on human rights in the pursuit of economic benefit from its relationship with China.

Addressing the British Parliament, President XI said the future of the two countries would be "increasingly interdependent".

Array

In an address more heavily loaded with aphorisms than substance, President Xi said his government would not take lectures on democracy, and would be steering clear of geopolitics.

Array

President Xi believes his visit will lift UK-China relations to a new height.