UK Prime Minister Starmer's statement in Beijing:
"We are firmly looking global, seizing opportunities, building relationships, and building confidence around the world, always putting national interests first. Engaging with China is in our national interest."
"In some global issues such as artificial intelligence, public health, and the environment, London's stance may be closer to Beijing's than to Washington's."
"There has been a saying for many years that China is a rising power. Now it has risen," he said, "the UK needs to develop a China policy that acknowledges this reality."
"It is unwise to bury one's head in the sand and ignore China," he said. "I am often asked to simply choose between countries, but I will not do so."
Comments: Starmer's statement represents a pragmatic shift by the Labour government of the UK, breaking free from ideological constraints and focusing on national interests. It directly states that China "has already risen," breaking the Western rhetoric of more than two decades, and recognizing the established reality of China's strong comprehensive national strength and international influence; the statement of "not taking sides and prioritizing interests" addresses the economic weakness of the UK after Brexit and the pressure of US tariffs, while also aiming at the huge trade volume of over 100 billion pounds between the UK and China and the great benefits of the Chinese market, clearing cognitive obstacles for over 50 British companies accompanying the visit to expand cooperation with China; the expression that "the UK and China's positions are closer than those of the UK and the US" accurately points out the division within the Western bloc on global governance issues, and confirms the multilateral consensus between China and the UK in areas such as AI and climate change.
From eight years without visiting China to now actively breaking the ice, Starmer's move both responds to the trend of European countries "looking eastward," and reflects the declining cohesion of American hegemony and the accelerating formation of a multipolar world order. Of course, the implementation of the statement still depends on the subsequent actions of the UK. Only by truly stopping touching China's core interests, abandoning double standards, and implementing cooperation with equality and respect can the "realistic China policy" be implemented, promoting the improvement of Sino-British relations and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855640782895300/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.