Last week, excitement filled the air as my husband and I set off for Hong Kong, eager to reunite with my family and meet our newborn grandson for the very first time. This was supposed to be an unforgettable family moment, but instead, it turned into an ordeal before we even reached baggage claim.

Upon our arrival at passport control, I handed my passport to a seemingly courteous immigration officer. However, the polite facade quickly crumbled when I noticed a troubling pause after my details were entered into the computer system.

I was whisked away to a room for questioning, where I faced rigorous interrogation and a thorough search of my luggage. After three agonizing hours, I was simply informed that I was barred from entry and promptly booked on the next flight back to London. My passport was returned only after I had disembarked in the UK.

Throughout this frustrating experience, I wrestled with two dominant feelings: heart-wrenching anguish over missing the chance to hold my grandson and profound confusion. Shockingly, no one provided a clear reason for my deportation. The Chinese government has vaguely stated that the Hong Kong SAR government can handle such cases, leaving me to speculate that my role as a British parliamentarian, particularly my outspoken criticism of Beijing's human rights violations, may have triggered this reaction.

I firmly believe in the values of democracy and civil liberty, principles that have been integral to my life. I vividly recall celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall—a triumph over authoritarianism that now feels like a distant memory as we confront a resurgence of such regimes globally.

My recent experience in Hong Kong highlighted this shifting tide towards authoritarianism—a force that thrives on secrecy and intimidation. The implications for the UK are alarming. We must confront the threat posed by the Chinese government head-on and take decisive action.

Ministers need to reject the silence and lack of clarity as mere collateral damage of diplomatic relations. It is imperative to demand transparency; without it, our engagement cannot be built on mutual trust. Therefore, until a satisfactory explanation for my deportation is provided, no British minister should set foot in China for official visits.

Additionally, we must be vigilant against the risks that Chinese influence poses at home. It’s time for our government to halt plans for a new Chinese "super embassy" in the UK, which many fear could serve as a hub for espionage. This proposal, particularly on the site of the former Royal Mint, is both alarming and unacceptable.

The recent crisis surrounding the Scunthorpe steelworks also underscores the dangers of Chinese interests in our infrastructure. The refusal of British Steel’s owners, Jingye, to accept a substantial government offer to safeguard the plant's future nearly led to a collapse of UK steel production. We cannot afford to find ourselves in that precarious situation again.

This urgency amplifies the necessity for Liberal Democrat proposals calling for an audit of British assets owned by entities from nations flagged for human rights abuses, including China. Such measures should be incorporated into the government's UK-China audit, which needs to be expedited in the face of new geopolitical challenges.

In response to the unpredictable nature of the Trump administration, we must not seek refuge in authoritarian powers like China. Our commitment to upholding our values and interests should never falter. If our government chooses to remain passive now, then when will it take action?