Alex Salmond accuses Home Office of 'sabotage' after visas for two Chinese teachers are denied
Scotland’s First Minister is currently on a trip to China aimed at forging greater trade and investment ties
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has accused the the Home Office of sabotaging Scotland's links with China after visas for two Chinese teachers were denied.
The two are part of a group of five educators from Tian Jin municipality who were set to return to Scotland for a second year, as part of a partnership programme backed by Strathclyde University and the Scottish government.
The scheme is designed to let the group teach Scottish pupils Mandarin and educate them about Chinese culture.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland, the Mr Salmond said: "It is an absolutely extraordinary situation you couldn't make it up. It is deeply offensive to the Chinese and it is a decision that needs to be reversed as soon as possible.
"This amounts to sabotage of a programme that everyone thinks absolutely fantastic and doing great work in Scotland.”
Salmond has written to Home Secretary Theresa May to express his concerns, warning that the affair risks causing damage to Scotland's relationship with China.
"The importance of this is quite fundamental,” he told the BBC. “Our argument is to have a successful economic relationship with China you must have it underpinned by a successful cultural relationship, that is the view of the Chinese, that is the view of the Scottish government. If you undermine one you undermine the other."
Salmond is currently on a trip to China aimed at forging greater trade and investment ties between Scotland and the country.
The Home Office has said it will review the visa applications and added that the situation is being treated seriously.
Scotland is set to vote on independence from the UK in September next year. Key issues in the debate include whether an independent Scotland would be able to survive economically and the part it could play on the world stage.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments