Stop Trump’s war with Iran

By New Worker correspondent

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in Whitehall on Saturday to protest against the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the top Iranian general killed in a targeted US drone attack in Baghdad last week. Left-wing Labour frontbenchers John McDonnell and Richard Burgon joined the Stop the War protesters demonstrating over the deadly attack that the Iranians have sworn to avenge in the very near future. McDonnell warned that the killing would “set the Middle East and the globe alight yet again”, and urged protesters to take direct action “on the streets in demonstrations and actions”.

“The march to war with Iran has begun, with the British government playing Trump's tune – it's time for all those opposed to another slaughter in the Middle East to organise a mass anti-war movement,” says Shabbir Lakha in Tribune this week.

The Stop the War campaign official said: “Socialists in the Labour Party must ensure that foreign policy is a litmus test for any contender for the leadership and that there is no room for a return to the days of Blairism, when the party was a voice for Western imperialism.

“But wider than that, the anti-war movement needs to urgently organise resistance to war with Iran. The situation is extremely critical and Stop the War has called a protest outside Downing Street at 2pm today to mobilise the opposition to war with Iran and send a clear indication to Boris Johnson that we will not tolerate British support for US aggression in the Middle East.

“Stop the War played a key role in the anti-Trump protests of 2018 and 2019, ensuring that the anti-war message was front and centre. The wide layer of activists and movements that came together to stand up to Trump then must now get active in the campaign to stop his wars.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Chinese young footballers in London

at the embassy

Chinese youth footballers were greeted at the Chinese embassy in London last month as they start their introduction to the ‘beautiful game’ in Britain.

Minister Ma Hui met the youth football delegation led by Tang Jiuhong, Deputy Secretary-General of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (SCLF), on 29^th November. The delegation is sponsored by SCLF and Jaguar Land Rover China Youth Dream Fund.

Minister Ma told the young footballers that the first Chinese Embassy in the UK was built in 1877 and that Britain was the first major Western country to recognise New China.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations at the chargé d'affaires levels. Over the last 65 years, the development of China–UK relations was generally smooth. In 2015, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the UK, ushering in the ‘Golden Era’ of China–UK relations. When President Xi visited Manchester City Football Club, he expressed the hope that China and Britain would strengthen sports exchanges and co-operation including football, and promote friendly exchanges between the two countries.

Britain is the birthplace of modern football and a football powerhouse, with many outstanding football clubs and superstars. There is a huge potential for football exchanges and co-operation between Britain and China. The visit and training of the youth football delegation in the UK will help to promote sports exchanges between the two countries, and to enhance mutual understanding and friendship. Ma Hui hoped that all the young players would make full use of their visit in the UK, training earnestly and communicating actively to improve their football skills and broaden their visions, so as to contribute to China–UK friendship and the strengthening of football in China.

Deputy Secretary-General Tang thanked the Chinese Embassy for its strong support for the Soong Ching Ling Foundation and youth football, saying that the delegation not only felt the warmth of the motherland, but also had a lively lesson on modern history and patriotic education at the Chinese Embassy. The young players would engage fully during this visit to improve their overall quality, show the good images of the Chinese youth, pass on the positive energy of China, and promote the friendship and mutual learning between the youths of the two countries.

In May 2014, the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Jaguar Land Rover China jointly established the Chinese Youth Dream Fund to support the growth and development of teenagers and children. Since 2014, the Fund has organised dozens of youth football fans to conduct football exchange training in the UK every year. This delegation consisted of more than 30 young players from Shanghai, who will go on to the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club youth training base and UK Middle Schools to conduct training exchanges.

For peace in Korea!

Michael Chant speaking

By New Worker correspondent

Korean solidarity activists returned to the Marchmont Centre in central London last weekend to hear a Democratic Korean diplomat talk about the current situation on the Korean peninsula, at a joint meeting organised by the Korean Friendship Association (KFA) and the Friends of Korea committee.

     Chaired by NCP leader Andy Brooks, a panel of speakers including Michael Chant of the RCPB (ML), Dermot Hudson from the KFA and Kim Song Gi from the London embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea  (DPRK) spoke about a renewed Korean crisis following the failure of US imperialism to follow up commitments made at the 2018 summit between the US and DPRK leaders in Singapore and the follow-up summit in Vietnam earlier in the year.

Following the historic developments for peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula that took place in 2018, which showed the genuine desire of the DPRK and the Korean people to consign the hostility of the USA and the DPRK to history, the USA is still refusing to fulfil its commitments following the principle of action for action. The promise of the summits between President Trump and Democratic Korean leader Kim Jong Un is therefore not being fulfilled.

At a time when the 29 NATO partners are meeting in London to attempt to revitalise this aggressive alliance, and President Trump himself will be in Britain facing the opposition of the British people, it is vitally important to support the right of the Korean people to self-determination, independence and peace. The meeting called on all Korean solidarity campaigners to strengthen the solidarity of the people’s movements in Britain with the DPRK.