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flag UK confirms no secret talks with China on Chagos Islands, reaffirming US base on Diego Garcia under UK control for 99 years.

flag Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty dismissed claims of secret Chagos Islands talks between Mauritius and China as "absolute nonsense," stating treaty rules prohibit foreign military bases in the British Indian Ocean Territory. flag He confirmed the UK-US base on Diego Garcia will remain under UK control for at least 99 years at an annual cost of £101 million, backed by the US and Five Eyes allies. flag Shadow minister Wendy Morton raised concerns about UK exclusion from security talks involving Mauritius, India, and potentially China, calling for parliamentary approval of payments. flag Conservative MPs questioned the deal’s transparency and possible strategic implications, but Doughty rejected allegations, citing the treaty’s safeguards and international support.

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