[Disclaimer: The content of this article is written with authoritative sources and personal opinions]
Text | Overseas TestimonialTalk
Edit | Overseas TestimonialTalk
The global situation is still changing, but no one expected that the "helmsman" in this wave will be United Kingdom.
Loading...
During Wang Yi's meeting with United Kingdom Foreign Minister Lamy, United Kingdom made three rare commitments to China. This scene not only brought Sino-British relations to a new juncture, but also caused cracks in the encirclement of China that United States had built.
Lamy's visit to China was not a whim, but a survival move in United Kingdom's struggle. Since Brexit, United Kingdom's economy has been in a sluggish state, and international trade and foreign relations have faced considerable challenges, especially during the Conservative Party administration, United Kingdom's economic and social problems have emerged, which has lowered people's trust in the government.
In the face of internal and external pressures, Starmer's Labour government urgently needs to find a new way out, and China, the world's second-largest economy, is undoubtedly a strong partner.
Against this backdrop, Lamy's mission to China is particularly important. In order to ensure the further strengthening of China-UK relations, Lamy made three important commitments during his meeting with Wang Yi. First, United Kingdom will continue to adhere to the "one-China policy" on the Taiwan issue. This means that United Kingdom will not challenge China's sovereignty over Taiwan, which is a friendly gesture towards China;
And the United Kingdom is committed to strengthening dialogue with China, especially on issues where the two sides have differences, and will seek solutions through dialogue, rather than confrontation. Second, the United Kingdom said it would maintain free trade, especially to continue to promote economic and trade cooperation with China. Third, the UK and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should work together to address the geopolitical crisis.
These promises may seem simple, but in fact they involve complex considerations. The Taiwan issue has always been one of the sensitive points in Sino-British relations, and although United Kingdom established diplomatic relations with China as early as 1972 and recognized the "one-China policy", United Kingdom has become less determined in recent years as United States moves in the Asia-Pacific region. Lamy's clear statement this time shows that United Kingdom is re-examining this issue, and it also means that United Kingdom has begun to seek a more flexible balance in the Sino-US game.
The commitment to strengthen dialogue plays a crucial role in the future direction of China-UK relations. In recent years, differences between China and Britain are not uncommon, especially on the issue of Hong Kong, where United Kingdom has repeatedly made unfriendly remarks, causing relations between the two countries to fall into a trough. And this visit to China is an attempt to repair this rift. United Kingdom's emphasis on dialogue at this juncture, apparently hoping to resolve differences and reduce misunderstandings through diplomatic means, is also a signal that United Kingdom urgently needs to improve Sino-British relations.
The most important thing is United Kingdom's statement on economic and trade cooperation, since Brexit, United Kingdom has lost its free trade advantage with the EU, and China, as one of the world's largest consumer markets, has naturally become a new target for United Kingdom. Especially in the automotive field, China has become a global electric vehicle producer, and United Kingdom hopes to take the fast track of China's new energy vehicles through more cooperation to help its own economic recovery.
The Chinese cars mentioned by Rami this time are actually not only open to the United Kingdom market, but also hope to deepen cooperation with China in technology and production to fill the United Kingdom's shortcomings in the field of new energy vehicles.
However, United Kingdom's "overture" was not motivated by pure goodwill. United States' blockade and suppression of China has been going on for years, especially in technology and trade, and United States has tried to form an encirclement of China by co-opting its allies. As an important ally of the United States, United Kingdom has always played the role of supporting United States policies.
But now, with United Kingdom's domestic economy struggling and United States' global strategy in turmoil, United Kingdom is beginning to realize that continuing to follow United States is not the best choice. In particular, the intensifying debt crisis in the United States and the possibility that Trump will return to the White House in 2024 have made the United Kingdom see unprecedented uncertainty. By contrast, cooperation with China is clearly more pragmatic and more in line with United Kingdom's current national interests.
Moreover, the United States' encirclement of China has always relied on the support of its allies, especially in the fields of trade, science and technology. But with this statement by United Kingdom, cracks appeared in the encirclement of the United States.
United Kingdom no longer blindly follows United States in pressuring China, but chooses to strengthen cooperation with China, which is not only a strategic containment of United States, but also a potential blow to United States' global leadership. In the future, whether other Western countries will follow United Kingdom's attitude and begin to consider more cooperation with China rather than confrontation has also become a trend to watch.
What is more noteworthy is that Lamy's visit to China is not a unilateral action of the United Kingdom government, but an important diplomatic strategy of the Labour Party after coming to power. After the Starmer government came to power, it realized that continuing to follow the Conservative government's hard line on China would only make United Kingdom more economically passive.
Therefore, in the new round of global diplomacy, the Starmer government has chosen a more pragmatic route. Through its engagement with China, Starmer hopes not only to ease economic pressures at home, but also to maintain more autonomy in international affairs and no longer rely solely on the baton of United States.
Although the future of China-UK relations still faces considerable challenges, especially in terms of ideology and geopolitics, there are still many differences between the two countries, but at the level of economic cooperation, both sides have huge room for cooperation. United Kingdom desperately needs the Chinese market to revive its economy, and China hopes to further enhance its position in the global economy by expanding international cooperation. Therefore, although Lamy's visit to China did not sign any major agreements, the visit itself is a sign of the gradual warming of Sino-British relations.
Of course, United Kingdom still occupies an important position in United States' global strategy, especially in the military and security fields, and it is difficult for United Kingdom to completely get rid of United States influence. Therefore, while the United Kingdom and China can seek more economic and trade cooperation, politically and diplomatically, the United Kingdom may still take a confrontational stance at some point. Especially on issues such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, how United Kingdom will balance its position between China and the United States remains a major variable in future Sino-British relations.
On the whole, although United Kingdom Foreign Minister Lamy's visit to China is not particularly high-profile, the significance behind it is very far-reaching. United Kingdom has begun to show a more pragmatic and flexible diplomatic strategy in the face of global challenges, which will undoubtedly affect the future international landscape. Whether China and the UK can gradually eliminate differences in future cooperation and establish a more solid foundation for cooperation will also become the focus of global attention.
What do you think about this? Feel free to leave a message in the comment area!
Resources
"Wang Yi talks with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Development, mentioning the movie "Lisbon Maru Sinks"——Shangguan News2024-10-19 06:38
(Due to the rules of the platform, you will only be considered a fan if you have more interaction with me.) If you like my articles, you can click "Follow" and receive the article push as soon as you become a fan. ）