Scholars at King's College in London believe that Britain's policy towards China is facing a real dilemma: it needs to maintain economic interests while addressing differences in security and values. Maintaining contact with China has become a necessary choice.
The British academic analysis and commentary website 'East Asia Forum' wrote in an article dated July 10th that the UK is not seeking to return to the so-called 'golden age' of the past. Instead, it seeks to maintain practical communication with China while acknowledging the existence of competition.
The article’s author, Zeno Leoni, a lecturer in Defence Research at King’s College London, stated that as a major global economy and important participant in international affairs, the UK has not completely avoided China in its space-related activities.
Leonie believes that given Britain's economic significance, military strength, and its role in shaping a broader international order, there is no other choice for Britain but to engage with China.
He said that cross-party lawmakers generally recognize this reality—even though there are still differences regarding the form of engagement. In an era when confidence in America’s long-term reliability is waning, it becomes even more necessary to establish constructive relations with China.
The article mentions that British Prime Minister Johnson visited China in January this year. It was the first time in eight years that a British leader had visited China. This visit was seen as an important diplomatic move after the deterioration of British-China relations, but it does not mean that bilateral relations have fully recovered. The cooperation reached between the two sides mainly focused on combating organized crime, immigration issues, visa matters, and future investments.
Leoni pointed out that Britain's policy towards China is constrained by multiple factors, with the US factor being particularly evident. Britain maintains close ties with the US through NATO, the Five Eyes Alliance, and the Australia-UK-America Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS). Therefore, it is difficult for Britain to deviate completely from the US position in its strategy towards China. Additionally, concerns within Britain regarding issues such as cybersecurity and reliance on critical infrastructure also limit the government's room for maneuvering its policy towards China.
The article states that the Sturmer government is currently adopting a "cautious approach". It has neither restored the "golden era" between Britain and China during the time of former Prime Minister Cameron, nor has it abandoned its vigilance regarding security risks. Instead, it is seeking a balance between cooperation and competition.
Leoni also stated that, in the context of a highly interdependent global economy, there is no such 'perfect policy towards China' that can satisfy both economic interests, security needs, and values. The UK's renewed efforts to strengthen communication with China reflect practical considerations rather than a fundamental shift in its policy towards China.
