Handing Chagos Islands back 'poses serious risk'

China waiting to take over military base in Indian Ocean

- Martyn Brown

BRITAIN is poised to drop plans to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius amid concerns over the country's strong links with China.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron has warned any changes to the Indian Ocean archipelago, which has been British-ruled since 1814, would pose serious risks.

The 60-strong island chain is home to the Diego Garcia military base, which is leased to the US and has been used for bombing missions in the Middle East.

A United Nations court has ruled the UK's possession of the Chagos, part of British Indian Ocean Territory, is "unlawful".

Talks are continuing over a deal to give Mauritius the islands, with Britain to remain in control of the military base, but paying as much as £2billion to do so.

It mirrors the agreestruck ment between Britain, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey over two bases in Cyprus in 1960, when the island was granted independence.