UK Minister for International Trade Douglas Alexander and British military leader Adm Sir Tony Radakin meet Chinese counterpart amidst tensions with Beijing, sparking concerns over UK policy on democratic Taiwan.
A UK Trade Minister Visits China Amid Tensions with Beijing
Douglas Alexander, the minister for trade policy and economic security, has travelled to ‘China’ for an unpublicised visit this week. The trip coincides with that of Adm Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the British military, marking the first time a UK chief of defence staff has visited ‘China’ in over a decade.
The Context of the Visit
The visit comes at a time when Beijing‘s trade dispute with the US is intensifying, and ministers have been locked in talks with British Steel’s owner, Jingye. A government source stated that Alexander’s trip was pre-planned and unrelated to Donald Trump’s tariffs or the negotiations over the future of ‘British Steel’.
Military Cooperation and Security Concerns
Radakin met Gen Liu Zhenli, the chief of staff of China’s central military commission, on Wednesday. The two sides discussed strengthening military cooperation, international and regional situations, and issues of common concern. However, some British politicians have expressed surprise and concern over Radakin’s visit, citing ‘China’s’ human rights record and its involvement in the conflict in ‘Ukraine’.
Military cooperation has been a cornerstone of international relations for centuries.
Historically, alliances were formed to counter common threats and secure strategic interests.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is one notable example, established in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union's expanding influence.
Today, military cooperation involves joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and capacity building programs.
According to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, over 70% of countries engage in some form of military cooperation.
This trend is driven by the need to address global security challenges, such as terrorism and cyber threats.
Economic Tensions and Tariffs
The US has introduced tariffs on Chinese imports totalling 145%, prompting Beijing to retaliate with an 84% levy of its own. The UK defence secretary, John Healey, co-hosted a meeting of defence ministers from 30 countries at Nato headquarters in Brussels to discuss increasing pressure on ‘Russia’ over ‘Ukraine’.
The US-China trade dispute began in 2018, with the 'Trump administration' imposing tariffs on Chinese goods worth $50 billion.
China retaliated with its own tariffs, escalating tensions between the two economic superpowers.
The conflict centers around issues such as intellectual property theft, technology transfer, and market access.
According to a report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, US exports to China declined by 16% in 2019 due to the trade war.
The dispute has significant implications for global trade, with many countries caught in the middle.
A Coherent Policy?
The visit has raised concerns about the UK’s policy on supporting a democratic Taiwan. Frances D’Souza, a cross-bench peer and member of the all-party parliamentary group on ‘Taiwan’, stated that the visit ‘drives a hole through any possibility of having a coherent policy.
Taiwan's policy is shaped by its complex relationship with China, which claims sovereignty over the island.
The Republic of China (ROC) government in Taipei maintains a delicate balance between economic integration with China and maintaining its own identity.
Taiwan's policy priorities include promoting domestic innovation, investing in renewable energy, and enhancing regional security.
Statistics show that Taiwan has become a significant player in global trade, with a GDP growth rate of 2.7% in 2020.
The country also boasts a highly educated workforce, with over 70% of citizens holding a tertiary education qualification.
- theguardian.com | UK trade minister visits China at same time as head of British military
