Cleverly advised to get powerful with Chinese as he visits the Communist superpower

I like and admire our Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.

He’s man and an excellent diplomat.

And we’re making progress on China, however on the eve of his journey to Beijing, there are nonetheless severe inquiries to be requested.

We should be extra coherent and we should be extra sturdy.

The nice historical Chinese strategist Sun Tsu stated that defence towards defeat got here from understanding each oneself and one’s adversaries. We have to study that.

Looking at what the present Chinese Government says concerning the West, it’s clear that they search to not reside in concord, however to dominate – and that’s as a result of freedom wherever is a risk to one-party Communists in all places.

China’s insurance policies and actions search to undercut our industries and to make us economically dependent. They wish to break the hyperlink between Europe and the US, and they’re succeeding. They wish to lock up British residents in Hong Kong with out us having the braveness to do or say something past a light little bit of concern.

Yes, after all, we have to interact, nobody severe says in any other case, however for the Foreign Office to argue that anybody who questions the present technique merely needs to keep away from coping with China is nonsense.

We have to cope with China while recognising the risk that it poses. But we have to do that while defending our values, strategic pursuits and partnerships.

Above all, we want as a matter of urgency to minimize our financial dependency on China and to diversify our provide chains. Every 12 months we fail to do that makes us and different Western nations extra depending on Beijing’s Communist dictators.

The twenty first Century dangers seeing two visions for the way forward for humanity.

The first is the “Western” liberal mannequin of a law-governed society, common rights and Government beneath legislation. The second is the brand new authoritarian mannequin championed by China the place freedoms are aggressively curtailed, politicians and celebration machines are above the legislation and the place surveillance, aided by massive information and Artificial Intelligence, leads science and humanity to a darker future.

Those who govern us have to get up to this actuality and cease clinging to a future that didn’t materialise.

We, and different Western nations, want to barter a brand new future with Beijing that defends our financial, moral and political values.

I want James nicely in reaching it.

Bob Seely is the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight.