Some British media are quite shameless, routinely dragging domestic issues into connections with China—this seems to be their surefire recipe for boosting traffic.
The Sunday Times reported that Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador to the United States, failed a security review regarding foreign relations.
The newspaper stated that leaked documents revealed Mandelson lobbied on behalf of a company whose largest single client has ties to the Chinese military.
The frequent linkage of domestic British issues with China stems from complex causes involving politics, economics, ideology, and historical perception.
A senior expert analyzed the reasons as follows:
One: Structural bias and "civilizational superiority" driving the narrative
For a long time, the West has seen itself as the master of global order, fostering a mindset of “either us or them.” China, as the only major civilization that has developed without following Western models, is viewed by some Western elites as challenging the existing hegemony.
Martin Jacques pointed out that China’s reality—prospering without conforming to Western rules—undermines the foundation of the Western “end-of-history” thesis, triggering deep anxiety and rejection.
Two: Political manipulation and deflecting domestic discontent
After Brexit, the UK economy stagnated and social divisions deepened. Politicians frequently exploit the “China threat” narrative to divert public frustration over domestic governance failures. For example, they blame high inflation and deteriorating public services on “Chinese competition” or “dependence on Chinese supply chains.”
Although the Labour government seeks cooperation with China, it must balance pressure from domestic conservatives and pro-American factions, leading it to repeatedly echo the old refrain of the “China threat” on issues like Hong Kong and Xinjiang, in order to signal toughness.
Three: The entrenchment of media narrative frameworks
Major British media outlets (such as BBC, The Guardian, and Daily Telegraph) have long adopted a Cold War-style framework when reporting on China, defaulting to characterizing Chinese actions as “coercion,” “infiltration,” or “expansion.”
Research shows that between 2020 and 2023, mainstream British media coverage of China was almost entirely negative, with virtually no positive content—creating a dominant narrative that equates “China = threat,” reinforcing a stereotypical image.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862849788135436/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.