A Complicated Friendship Between China and Britain

Chinese and westerners enjoy cordial relationships in business, education and tourism. The best of relationships recognize differences and explore values. Yet “Party-controlled media virulently denounce [western] values and traditions” – employing cyber-surveillance and intrusive censorship of ranging from the internet to textbooks, explains former diplomat James Richards in an essay for the Financial Times. He describes the Chinese as tough negotiators, adding “The ‘win-win’ language deployed with foreigners hides the relentless pursuit of ‘we win, you lose.’” Richards questions Britain’s “welcome of foreign investment in telecoms, transport and nuclear energy systems by companies under Communist party control” and urges caution. Pursuit of a short-term market advantage could threaten British relationships with the United States and the European Union, which together without Britain represent more than 40 percent of global GDP. China represents about 15 percent. “There is damaging drift in the UK’s foreign and security policy,” Richards concludes. “The government needs to clear its mind on our place in the world, and fit our China policy within a broader strategic framework.” – YaleGlobal