We must follow our US allies and join the Great War on China or risk a major political blunder
IT would be fair to say that, over the years, British politicians have made some major strategic blunders.
The classic example is Appeasement in the 1930s, when the UK pandered to Nazi Germany rather than confront it, allowing Hitler to plan the Second World War.
British leaders might well look around at today’s world and think the prospect of a similar mistake being made again highly unlikely.
But they would be wrong, because we are already making it. And its name is China.
The world’s largest country is home to more than 1.4billion people. The sheer size of its population, and the rapid economic development that has occurred over the past 20 years, has made it into an economic superpower.
China’s GDP, at more than £12trillion, is five times that of the UK, and Chinese economic growth has been responsible for raising more people out of poverty in the world than any other single factor.
Because China exports more goods than it imports, it has been able to build up a significant trade surplus.
It has used this income to invest at home, but also abroad.
We have for many years looked to welcome this foreign investment into the UK, and it has delivered jobs and benefits in the industries which have benefited from an injection of money. So far, so good.
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSED
But there is a much darker side to China than the sunny image of a generous investor looking to share its prosperity with us.
For unlike the UK, China is not a democracy.
We may find the constant stream of elections and referendums over the past few years frustrating, but at least we can decide who gets to govern us and how.
Chinese citizens have no such luck. Their Communist Party rulers long ago abandoned Soviet-style economics in order to embrace the free market system that we hold dear, but there has been no accompanying Western-style political reform.
Ordinary Chinese are constantly monitored by the state and punished for behaviour that challenges the system.
Human rights are frequently abused and civil rights removed.
In one of the worst cases, more than a million Muslim Uighurs are being “re-educated” in detention camps.
Even where human and civil rights are protected by law, as in Hong Kong, China has shown its true authoritarian face.
We have seen the results on our TV screens as desperate protesters are beaten by police and China-supporting gangs
Rather than work with Hong Kong to develop freedoms that could eventually be applied across China, the Chinese-controlled local authorities have sought to crush democracy at every turn.
We have seen the results on our TV screens as desperate protesters are beaten by police and China-supporting gangs.
Nor is China’s aggressive behaviour limited to its own borders.
Over the past few years China has broken international law by claiming parts of the South China Sea as its own, building military installations and airstrips on contested islands to threaten its neighbours.
When it can see an opportunity to hurt Western interest or Western allies, it takes it.
China props up Iran with oil imports and helps North Korea through trade, in both cases allowing their economies to avoid the collapse they deserve for pursuing nuclear weapons.
And when it comes to foreign investment, Chinese money often comes with strings attached.
Chinese investment in ports may improve infrastructure, but it makes sure it gains access to naval facilities and the ability to transport much-needed resources in return.
LASHING OUT LIKE A BULLY
And if a country defaults on its loan payments, like Sri Lanka has done, then China will seize the port in question as collateral, expanding its growing empire.
Allowing China access to internal markets also opens up the prospect of espionage.
Chinese companies have been accused of stealing corporate secrets from major foreign competitors and infringing copyright at will.
The Chinese government is also believed to influence telecommunications giants such as Huawei, raising fears that China could spy on us or disrupt our networks.
When China is called out about its behaviour, it lashes out like a bully.
For daring to query Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G infrastructure, the Chinese threatened us with a loss of other investment.
After we raised concerns over the Hong Kong treaty we had signed with the Chinese, we were told it was none of our business.
With the latest US announcement that China manipulates its currency to make its exports artificially cheaper, the UK faces a defining moment.
MOST READ IN OPINION
Do we continue to ignore the unacceptable side of China’s rise so Chinese money continues to flow, or do we join our US allies in defence of fair play?
Nobody should go looking for a trade war. After all, tariffs damage all our economies.
But if this is the price required to ensure China starts playing by international rules, then it is one worth paying.
- Alan Mendoza is founder and executive director of the Henry Jackson Society think tank
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]