Time We Treated China With A Lot More Scepticism

‘For all our kowtowing, Britain cannot pretend it is friendly’

- Ross Clark

Over the past two decades, Britain’s policy towards China has been founded more on hope than reality. We have convinced ourselves that China’s human rights abuses cannot be all that bad, or that at least things are going in the right direction.

On the back of that wishful thinking, we welcomed China into the World Trade Organization and invited Chinese investment to Britain, including infrastructure projects such as the Hinckley C nuclear power station and our 5G telecommunications network.

We treated Chinese President Xi Jinping to a state visit. He took tea with Prince William and dined with the Queen.

Obligingly, we made sure that Xi would not be exposed to any human rights protests.

Former prime minister David Cameron groveled before the Chinese when they protested at him meeting the Dalai Lama, who the Chinese see as a threat, bolstering the Free Tibet campaign. One could understand if he was a terrorist or guerrilla leader, but the Dalai Lama?

YET for all this kowtowing to China, Britain can pretend no more. China is not a friendly country and neither, under this leadership, is it ever likely to be.