Paul Hodges, Chairman of New Normal Consulting, discusses Britain's dilemma over China with host Duncan Bartlett. The podcast covers the evolving dynamics between the UK and China, the UK government's engagement with China and concerns over Hong Kong, the Labour Party's stance on China, the potential consequences of China's real estate bubble on international relations, and the UK's relationship with Taiwan and China.
The UK government is facing a dilemma in finding a balance between engaging with China and maintaining democratic values, given China's concerning actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
The opposition Labour Party in the UK has adopted a more hardline stance on China, calling for a full audit of relations regarding human rights, but faces challenges in balancing economic growth with values-based foreign policy.
Deep dives
Changes in China-UK Relationship
Over the past eight years, the relationship between China and the United Kingdom has undergone significant changes. President Xi Jinping's consolidation of power, the COVID outbreak, the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, the treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, and China's threatening behavior towards Taiwan have all influenced public opinion and media coverage. These negative stories about China have impacted politicians in London and other liberal democratic capitals. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Richie Sunak, faces challenges in finding a balance between engagement and maintaining democratic values in the face of China's actions.
Conservative Party's Stance on Hong Kong
The UK Conservative Party, under Prime Minister Sunak, has faced scrutiny for its response to the situation in Hong Kong. Some party members within the House of Commons view even limited engagement with China as compromising democratic processes and enabling the politicization of the legal system. This clampdown in Hong Kong has shocked politicians across the political spectrum in the UK and has significant implications for bilateral diplomatic relations with China. As the UK approaches its next general election, issues related to China are expected to become prominent once again.
Labour Party's Position on China
The opposition Labour Party has adopted a more hardline stance on China in recent years. Labour leader Sakeer Stama has accused the government of cosying up to China's Communist Party and has called for a full audit of relations, particularly regarding human rights. However, Labour faces dilemmas in terms of balancing economic growth with values-based foreign policy. Stama presents Labour as a party supporting business, making it challenging to disengage from China. As the next general election approaches, it remains uncertain how Stama, if elected as Prime Minister, would navigate the complexities of China-UK relations.
The UK government has taken a relatively hawkish approach to China, with the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, declaring that Beijing poses the “biggest challenge of our age to global security and prosperity”. Nevertheless, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly travelled to Beijing with the goal to stabilise relations. In this podcast Duncan Bartlett discusses Britain’s dilemma over China with guest presenter, Paul Hodges, Chairman of New Normal Consulting.