China: Foreign secretary will likely be strolling similar tightrope as different Western diplomats – however he’s already behind the curve

As he lands in Beijing, the primary British international secretary to take action in 5 years, James Cleverly, faces the identical problem that has perplexed visiting diplomats for many years.

Put merely, China’s economic system and market are too massive to disregard and its authorities too necessary to alienate.

But alternatively, China‘s conduct is totally unacceptable on an entire vary of fronts.

Its therapy of its Muslim Uyghur minority is genocidal, or one thing fairly shut. Ditto Tibet.

It has ridden a fleet of carriages and horses by the Hong Kong settlement it made with Britain. Its bullying and threats to take over Taiwan are worrying too.

Politics stay: ULEZ expanded regardless of controversy

China says the West has no proper to intervene within the inside sovereign affairs of one other nation and can brook no criticism on the above on these grounds.

It ought to be stated that when ally Russia interfered within the sovereign inside affairs of one other nation with a full-scale invasion, China didn’t apply the identical ideas and is aiding and abetting Moscow with arms gross sales which might be rising, to the alarm of these within the West.

Also rising concern is the truth that the extra authoritarian Xi Jinping turns into, the more severe the Chinese economic system fares, and that would have grave implications for all of us if the Chinese financial juggernaut begins to return off the rails.

Mr Cleverly’s problem is all of the better as a result of his boss has been so hawkish and demanding with Beijing.

Rishi Sunak didn’t mince his phrases on the G7 summit in May in Hiroshima when he denounced China as the most important menace to international prosperity and order of our age with the “means and intent to reshape the world order”.

Mr Cleverly appears to be taking an open-minded method with him. He says he needs to have interaction with the Chinese authorities on areas the place there are disagreements but in addition on areas the place there may be mileage in cooperation, not least on local weather change.

He will likely be strolling the identical tightrope as different Western diplomats in Beijing, difficult its authorities on points that offend the UK whereas not doing something to hazard profitable buying and selling hyperlinks with China’s huge economic system.

He is already behind the curve. France, Germany and the EU have all despatched giant delegations, together with enterprise and industrial contingents. Mr Cleverly shouldn’t be doing the identical.

Read extra:
‘Chinese spy used LinkedIn to focus on UK officers’
Missing set of figures on youth unemployment will spark concern
Economic headache from China deflation – and worldwide results

For all of the speak of decoupling from the Chinese economic system, Western leaders nonetheless salivate over the lure of a market over a billion robust.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

In actuality, Britain is much less necessary economically and diplomatically outdoors the European Union.

Chinese officers have been bruisingly dismissive of the UK’s significance up to now.

But Mr Cleverly says he doesn’t purchase into the narrative that Britain not has affect or a voice.

In Beijing, he hopes to seek out each to do enterprise on points the place it may be achieved and make Britain’s views identified in areas the place there are disagreements.