At last, Boris is listening to me!

I have forgotten how long I have been boring on - and on - and on - to the effect that China is an evil, dangerous, manipulative enemy and that HMG should forthwith cut ties to the minimum.  Happily, today The Spectator reports: 

For this country, there is one thing that will clearly be different: the government’s approach to China. I understand that while Boris Johnson’s grand, integrated foreign policy review has been put on hold because of the pandemic, the work on Anglo-Sino relations has been brought forward as a matter of urgency. One of those heavily involved in the development of this new policy tells me that the aim is to get this country ‘off the trajectory of ever-increasing dependence’ on China. 

Alas, it has taken Australia to open HMG's eyes as to the true nature of relations with China:

Uppermost in ministers’ minds is the example of Australia, which called for an independent inquiry into the origins of coronavirus. Beijing was furious and responded by slapping tariffs on its barley and refusing imports from four key Australian abattoirs. There has also been talk of consumer boycotts of Australian produce and reports that power plants are being urged not to use coal from the country. A third of Australia’s trade is with China. It now finds itself vulnerable to a communist state that is willing to use economic links to punish countries that step out of line. This is a situation that Britain does not want to be in.

Perhaps a return to the days of 'Imperial Preference' is called for!  If what James Forsyth of 'The Speccie' reports is true then 'the times are very definitely changing' in Anglo-Sino relations.

From now on, things will be different. There is now a conscious choice in government to diminish reliance on China wherever possible, even if it means paying more. One source at the heart of government tells me that a keystone of this new approach is that we are ‘prepared to take economic pain to reduce dependence on China’. This has the added advantage of fitting with what No. 10 believes is the public mood. One pollster, whose analysis is valued greatly by senior figures in government, tells me that for the first time there is an anti--Beijing mood out in the country. There is also a new political consensus emerging that the UK can’t be as passive as before in the face of China’s rise. Among Tory strategists the worry isn’t that Keir Starmer’s Labour party will attack this change in approach, but that it will criticise the government for not going far enough. 

You see, where 'D&N' leads, eventually others follow!  Mind you, I can hardly believe that the 'Boris Squad' managed this about turn all on ther own.  Of course, my advice will have helped - and I heard that! - but perhaps a tweet or so from 'over there' helped us on our way.  Whatever, it is excellent news!  And yes, it will hurt but we've been through all that sort of thing before!

 

 

Comments

[Pat]

I doubt China was paying for coal, barley or beef out of charity! The Chinese will have to do without the products.
China is about to learn that.mercantilism is expensive.

[Whitewall]

David, pretty soon Boris will have D&N on permanent retainer!