A Labour MP is unhappy after comments she made in an interview reappeared in a Chinese propaganda video broadcast on repeat in New York's Times Square.

Catherine West, the Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, appears in the video, which is looping on a giant screen in one of the world's most iconic advertising locations.

The clip, which is being shown 120 times a day, makes the case for China's territorial claims on the South China Sea – even though a court in the Hague this month ruled that China's claims are "incompatible" with international law.

The video, which is being broadcast on the square's China Screen by the national news agency Xinhua, appears to show West tacitly endorsing the Chinese government's call for further discussions with neighbouring countries rather than accepting the court's ruling.

"I think talks are crucial," the Labour MP is quoted as saying. "And that's why we have to be careful that yes, we need to resolve something very locally and have a grown-up approach to dialogue."

After BuzzFeed News highlighted the video, West got in touch to insist that it does not represent her views.

"I am concerned and perplexed by the assertions from the video," she said. "I was unaware that these comments would be used in this manner.



"Although I was of course happy to give an interview on my concerns regarding the militarisation of the South China Sea and the need to work together to secure a peaceful resolution. I am not happy [for] footage to be used in a way that suggests that I support the current approach adopted by China towards these islands."

