The British Prime Minister rejecting the simplified language of Cold War with China
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saidon Monday, that the United Kingdom cannot rely on simplistic Cold War language against China, even after the BBC announced that one of its journalists had been arrested and beaten, and kicked by police while covering dissident protests in Shanghai against the government, Bloomberg News reported.
In his first major foreign policy speech as prime minister on Monday, Sunak will draw a clear line under the golden age period of UK-China relations pursued by former Prime Minister David Cameron.
Bloomberg said that, according to a transcript of his remarks disclosed by his office via email, he will also insist that China “cannot simply be ignored,” especially on issues such as global economic stability or climate change.
Bloomberg added that Sunak would also say, “The United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and many others understand this as well… So together we will manage this increased competition, including through diplomacy and engagement”.
In just five weeks in power, Sunak has softened the UK’s approach to China, reversing the previous government’s plans to characterize the Asian giant as a threat to Britain, but such a soft stance threatens to alienate the most hardline politicians in the ruling Conservative Party, especially as China cracks down on citizens protesting against President Xi Jinping’s Covid-19 policies.
The BBC said on Sunday evening that one of its journalists, Ed Lawrence, was arrested and detained for several hours while he was covering the protests, during which time he was beaten and kicked by the police.
