Last week, Rishi Sunak, leader of Britain’s Conservative opposition, questioned Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions, covering topics from Taiwan to Russia-China relations. Starmer outlined his government’s China policy as “cooperate, challenge, compete”, suggesting a need for consistency.
Reflecting on the lack of consistency in previous UK-China relations, the shift from “protect, align, engage” to current policies shows a nuanced approach to the bilateral relationship. Former foreign secretary James Cleverly’s stance on labeling China as a threat highlights the complexities of diplomatic decisions.
Considering the evolving dynamics of power, the choice between different policy frameworks becomes crucial for Labour. The recent visit by Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Beijing and Shanghai aims to enhance dialogue with Chinese counterparts.