On April 23, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called China an "authoritarian state" in a public speech.
The next day, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the UK responded to the matter, and the address to Sunak in the response was particularly intriguing.
Why did Sino-British relations develop to such an extent today?
1. Not-so-friendly Sino-British relations
On April 23, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak referred to China as an "authoritarian state" in a speech in Warsaw, attracting domestic and international attention.
The term "authoritarianism" generally refers to "authoritarianism" and is often used to describe countries that have transitioned from authoritarian rule to democracy.
Some studies have argued that "authoritarianism" suppresses the people's demand for democratic politics, and they tend to look forward to war when the country is in danger.
There are even those who associate "authoritarianism" with "Nazism".
Therefore, Sunak's remarks undoubtedly adhere to the old path of the Western camp, accusing China of being "undemocratic" and criticizing China's position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
On April 24, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK responded to the incident, saying: "We strongly condemn his groundless accusations and malicious slander against China, and resolutely oppose his Cold War remarks that incite confrontation and confrontation." ”
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said that Sunak's remarks were only an excuse for Britain to increase military spending, and the UK's performance on the Ukraine issue and the Gaza issue was "without any morality at all".
In addition, it is worth noting that the spokesman addressed Sunak as a "British politician".
On diplomatic occasions, the mainland is accustomed to upholding a respectful and polite attitude, and when addressing the leaders of other countries, they either address the other country's position or address them with honorific "Your Excellency."
As for the word "politician", although it is also an objective fact, in the general impression, it is often closely associated with words such as tactful and cunning, unscrupulous, and selfish.
What's more, the spokesman didn't even say the name Sunak, which really seemed "impolite", and the dissatisfaction and warning behind it are self-evident.
But in the final analysis, this is all self-inflicted by the British side.
In recent years, Britain and the United States have closely stood on the same stand, and there are differences with the mainland in their attitudes on many international issues, and Sino-British relations seem to be incompatible with the word "friendship."
Last year, the UK government released a comprehensive review of security, defence, development and foreign policy, which defined China as an "epoch-making and systemic challenge".
In various public occasions, Sunak has repeatedly called China the "biggest challenge" to global security and prosperity, and advocated "de-risking" China.
But a decade ago, when David Cameron was prime minister, Sino-British relations were relatively positive, and in 2013, when Cameron visited China, he said that "Britain will play the role of China's strongest supporter in the Western world".
At that time, the British government threatened that Sino-British relations would enter a "golden age", but after Johnson came to power, Britain's attitude towards China took a sharp turn, and Sunak even bluntly said: The "golden era" of Sino-British relations has ended.
Nowadays, the presence of Britain can always be found in the voices that are not friendly to China, so why should they do this?
2. Behind the tension between China and the UK
One of the main reasons for the tension between China and Britain is that Britain has been tied to the "chariot" of the United States.
Due to its special geographical location, Britain's position in Europe has always been a little embarrassing, and after it withdrew from the European Union, it gradually distanced itself from continental European countries.
Today's Britain has long since lost the "glory" of the past when "the sun never sets," and in the ever-changing international situation, it is impossible for Britain to be invincible by fighting alone.
As a result, it chose to "tie up" with the United States, trying to use the economic, military, and other forces of the United States to preserve everything at present, or to develop itself.
The United States and Britain already have strong historical ties and are highly similar in ideology, values, and economic systems, so it is not difficult to understand that they are walking together.
Out of the consolidation of its "hegemony," the United States has been incitement to anti-China ideology in recent years, and its "ally" Britain has naturally followed suit.
In addition, the close and friendly relations between China and Russia have also made the United States and Britain fear being threatened, especially after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Western camp led by the United States and Britain has used various means to try to force China and Russia to "break up".
They claim that China is aiding and abetting abuse, but it is they who are really sowing discord and obstructing world peace in the international community.
Resources:
Beijing News "British Prime Minister Sunak Lists China as an Authoritarian State, Chinese Embassy Refuts"
Qiang Wutang "British Prime Minister Calls China an "Authoritarian State", China's Name for Him Has Changed, and Its Nature Has Changed