UK must be wary about deals with China's brutal, authoritarian regime

How times have changed. Keir Starmer’s handshake with Xi Jinping – despite escalating threats to Taiwan; the plight of Hong Kong’s people; shocking human rights abuses of the Uyghur people; and the neglected issue of Tibet – is the latest sign that Western democracies are deciding to move closer, not further away.

Given China is the world’s second biggest economy and the UK is struggling to achieve meaningful growth, this is understandable. The welcome announcement that China will reduce tariffs on whisky from 10 to 5 per cent is expected to be worth £250 million over five years.

One reason why Starmer is seeking to reduce barriers to trade is that it will offset the damage being done to the UK economy by Donald Trump’s unjustified tariffs, and help mitigate any further rises imposed by this most volatile US President.

Canada’s Mark Carney recently agreed a new “strategic partnership” with China largely because of Trump’s tariffs and his threats to use “economic force” to compel Canada to become part of the US. Furthermore, for the first time in a century, Canada’s military is working on ways to defend against a possible US invasion – using guerrilla tactics, drones and sabotage, while appealing to Europe for help – according to The Globe and Mail newspaper.

All this might prompt some to think that Xi is a better friend to the UK than Trump. It could also be that stronger ties between the West and China will help convince Beijing there is too much to be lost by emulating the military aggression of its ally in the Kremlin.

However, despite the smiles and the hospitality, we must always remain wary and remember this is a brutal, authoritarian regime that is seeking to reshape the world in its own undemocratic image.

On China, Starmer and other Western democracies are walking a tightrope, but Trump has virtually forced them into it.