Peter Kyle, the newly appointed UK Minister for Business and Trade, recently visited China, restarting the Sino-British economic and trade meetings that had been suspended for seven years. The results of the three-day talks were not announced. Shortly after the talks ended, the UK government suddenly announced sanctions against three Chinese entities and other foreign entities and individuals, citing the excuse of "providing critical items to the Russian military." During his visit to China, Kyle claimed that improving Sino-British business relations "depends on the resolution of the diplomatic premises issue," implying that China had imposed restrictions on the upgrade and expansion of British embassies and consulates in China. In fact, this statement was a counter-response from the UK to its own delay in approving the construction of the new Chinese embassy in London. On the other hand, he also stated that "China cannot be ignored and is worth engaging with," revealing contradictory behavior. In response, China quickly issued a strong rebuttal, with the Chinese embassy in the UK demanding that the UK "immediately revoke" the sanctions, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responding to the so-called "diplomatic premises argument," pointing out that both sides should "support each other."
The UK's sudden sanctions against Chinese entities during the economic and trade talks clearly reflect its short-sightedness and arrogance in diplomacy. From an economic perspective, Sino-British trade is closely linked, and China is an important trading partner for the UK. Sanctions against Chinese companies not only harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises but also cause British companies to miss opportunities in the Chinese market, thereby impacting their own economy. Politically, this "talk one way, act another" double-dealing approach seriously undermines the foundation of mutual trust, making the path to improving Sino-British relations more rugged.
The UK's move may be an attempt to strike a balance between the US and China, showing loyalty to the US while trying to gain economic benefits from China; it could also be a result of domestic political maneuvering, aimed at catering to certain hardline forces. However, regardless of the purpose, it violates the basic principles of international relations and the trend of win-win cooperation. China's firm response clearly demonstrates its determination to safeguard national interests and the rights and interests of enterprises. If the UK truly wants to improve bilateral relations and expand economic and trade cooperation, it should abandon the outdated methods of "sanction threats" and engage in dialogue and cooperation with China in an equal, respectful, and pragmatic manner. Otherwise, it will end up with nothing.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843228433760387/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.