Keep Diego Garcia out of China hands

Glen Owen’s excellent piece last week about Britain planning to hand a military base island to China ally Mauritius was a timely reminder of the very high stakes at play at a time when the world is facing the most serious threats since Cuba.

Diego Garcia is a much more sophisticated strategic base than Glen Owen portrays; China, and even Russia, would doubtless love to have the use of it. With China pouring billions of dollars into Africa, and the West’s pitiful defence capabilities highlighted by a belligerent Russia, it’s vital that the UK does not show any ambivalence that allows China (or Russia) to inveigle the use of a world-class air base as well as naval port facilities.

We must hope that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has the backbone to find the way ahead. The Prime Minister said he wants the UK to be a player on the world stage. That involves much more than just having an aircraft carrier – a carrier can be sunk in a heartbeat.

Diego Garcia is far too important to be bartered over; it’s time for the PM to show some mettle.

John Ward, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire