Recently, the renowned British historian Simon Jenkins raised a topic in his comment article in The Guardian that has put the British government in an embarrassing yet unavoidable position.

Former UK Prime Minister Cameron

Jenkins pointed out that Britain is no longer the superpower it once was. In dealing with a rising global power like China, it must adopt the posture of a "second-rate country" when engaging with a "superpower" like China.

In fact, since the post-WWII restructuring of the global order, Britain's status as a superpower had already ended with the collapse of its colonial system and economic decline. However, the lingering glow of the "Empire on which the sun never sets" has prevented it from fully awakening.

Jenkins also directly criticized the British government's dilemma in its China policy in his comment article:

On one hand, it blindly follows the United States in hyping up the so-called "China threat," while on the other hand, it cannot do without China, which is its "economic lifeline." This contradictory stance has long been out of sync with the changes in the global power structure.

To this, he further called on the British government to re-examine its overall foreign policy, especially to adjust its China strategy. Instead of fabricating China as a "threat" or an "enemy," it should actively seek a path of friendly coexistence, exploring cooperation opportunities in areas such as trade, economy, and technology.

Looking at this, Jenkins is reminding the British government that blindly following the US to "confront" China is of no benefit, as the US itself is no longer as influential as before.

If the UK continues to "ride on America's war chariot" or be immersed in the illusion of hegemony, it will not only fail to gain anything but also miss the cooperation opportunities brought by China's rise.

It is worth noting that during the tenure of former UK Prime Minister Cameron and former Chancellor Osborne, Sino-British relations were relatively "harmonious."

However, the UK government's attitude towards China has gradually deviated afterward.

In Jenkins' view, this shift reflects a misperception of Britain's international status and a sluggish response to changes in the global landscape.

In his article, he also specifically mentioned the "precedent" of the United States. Even though the US is currently a superpower, it has had to "compromise" in the "tariff war" against China. How much more so for Britain, whose strength has already declined.

At the same time, Jenkins also noticed a key change:

The "BRICS+" mechanism, which includes China as an important member, has already exceeded the G7 in scale within world trade, becoming a shaper of the global economic landscape.

But even after saying all this, the British government is likely to "turn a deaf ear."

Yet it is ironic that the UK sees China as a "threat" while being unable to do without its economic cooperation.

A British economist even bluntly stated: "The UK's economic position is very fragile; China is seen as a potential savior, even a messiah."

One can only say that the UK may still cling to the fantasy of global hegemony, but it no longer has the capability for that.

It is worth mentioning that former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, in a book focusing on the "Five Eyes Alliance," once made the following statement:

"We have yet to find an ideal model that allows the global economy to develop through China's position while simultaneously constraining China's 'concerning behaviors.'

In short, it is wanting to enjoy the benefits brought by China's development while trying to bind China to a Western hegemonic framework, not allowing China to have a voice commensurate with its strength, nor allowing China to challenge the existing order dominated by the West.

This is almost the most genuine thought of the West. However, the global landscape is no longer "Western-dominated." The rise of emerging market countries is irreversible. Any country should treat China with an equal and pragmatic attitude.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7568403960856396340/

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