On January 25, former UK Prime Minister Sunak wrote, "It is wrong to replace dependence on the US with dependence on China. The UK and our allies need to build their own hard power reserves."

At a time when the UK and Europe's policies toward China are undergoing a complex and delicate adjustment, Sunak's remarks on January 25 essentially reflect the Conservative Party's strategic anxiety toward China, and also represent a statement within domestic political struggles.

Recently, the Starmer government, led by the Labour Party, approved the long-delayed new embassy building project for the Chinese ambassador in the UK, which is seen as a pragmatic signal of cooperation with China.

After the Trump administration returned to the White House, it exerted pressure on European allies, including the UK, on issues such as tariffs, prompting European countries to re-evaluate their reliance on the US.

In this context, as a former prime minister from the opposition (Conservative Party), Sunak's comments are viewed as a criticism of the current government's policies and a "counter-current" statement.

Sunak's remarks highlight the internal divisions within the UK political arena regarding China policy. The Conservative Party attempts to shape an image of being tough on China, contrasting it with the Labour Party's pragmatic approach.

Sunak's statement aligns with his previous position. During his tenure as prime minister, he once tried to push for a closer "military-like" economic alliance with the US to counter China's rise and had previously referred to China as a "challenge."

At the same time, this statement also reflects the contradictory mindset of some Western politicians facing China's development and changes in the international landscape—desiring to reduce dependence on the US while remaining hesitant about deepening cooperation with China.

In summary, Sunak's remarks more represent the views of a part of political forces within the UK. However, the UK government's actual policy tends to make pragmatic adjustments based on realistic considerations of national economic interests amid a complex international situation. Such statements cannot influence the trend of the UK's policy development in the face of rapid changes in the international landscape.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1855303535491072/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.