 risks a cataclysmic escalation that could result in a war between the USA and China. The fallout would make the economic consequences of Putin's invasion of Ukraine look like a storm in a teacup. It is in Britain's interests, and those of the world, that this never comes to pass. A China strategy for the UK should start with a commitment to uphold core British values, which will imply a long-term goal of making sure Xi does not get to extinguish democracy in Taiwan and reshape the world order and international organisations in China's image. Increasingly a dictator unfazed by human costs, Xi cannot be deterred){kind=link}
Increasingly a dictator unfazed by human costs, Xi cannot be deterred militarily
Although his meeting with Xi Jinping at the G20 summit will now not go ahead, Rishi Sunak was right to soften his language on China and bin Liz Truss’s plan to label China a “threat”. Officially categorising China in this way would trigger a hostile response and render diplomacy ineffective.
It is important for Mr Sunak to understand that failure to adopt a proper China strategy now will be harmful to British interests. The Government needs a well thought-through approach – one that acknowledges the challenges China poses, defines our long, medium and short-term objectives, and maps out the best way to achieve them.
The reality is that, while diplomacy is nice among allies, it is indispensable when dealing with unfriendly countries, unless one desires war.
Guided by Xi Jinping’s “Chinese Dream”, the Chinese Communist Party seeks to make China great again, a project which includes making the world safe for autocracies, transforming global governance to reflect its resurgent power and interests, and extending the reach of the party-state.