As he lands in Beijing, the primary British overseas secretary to take action in 5 years, James Cleverly, faces the identical problem that has perplexed visiting diplomats for many years.
Put merely, China's economy and market are too huge to disregard and its authorities too essential to alienate.
But however, China's conduct is totally unacceptable on a complete vary of fronts.
Its remedy of its Muslim Uyghur minority is genocidal, or one thing fairly shut. Ditto Tibet.
It has ridden a fleet of carriages and horses through the Hong Kong agreement it made with Britain. Its bullying and threats to take over Taiwan are worrying too.
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China says the West has no proper to intrude within the inner sovereign affairs of one other nation and can brook no criticism on the above on these grounds.
It needs to be stated that when ally Russia interfered within the sovereign inner affairs of one other nation with a full-scale invasion, China didn't apply the identical ideas and is aiding and abetting Moscow with arms gross sales which might be rising, to the alarm of these within the West.
Also rising concern is the truth that the extra authoritarian Xi Jinping turns into, the more severe the Chinese financial system fares, and that would have grave implications for all of us if the Chinese financial juggernaut begins to return off the rails.
Mr Cleverly's challenge is all of the larger as a result of his boss has been so hawkish and important with Beijing.
Rishi Sunak didn't mince his phrases on the G7 summit in May in Hiroshima when he denounced China as the most important menace to world prosperity and order of our age with the "means and intent to reshape the world order".
Mr Cleverly appears to be taking an open-minded strategy with him. He says he desires to interact with the Chinese authorities on areas the place there are disagreements but in addition on areas the place there may be mileage in cooperation, not least on local weather change.
He will probably be strolling the identical tightrope as different Western diplomats in Beijing, difficult its authorities on points that offend the UK whereas not doing something to hazard profitable buying and selling hyperlinks with China's huge financial system.
He is already behind the curve. France, Germany and the EU have all despatched massive delegations, together with enterprise and industrial contingents. Mr Cleverly will not be doing the identical.
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For all of the speak of decoupling from the Chinese financial system, Western leaders nonetheless salivate over the lure of a market over a billion robust.
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In actuality, Britain is much less essential economically and diplomatically outdoors the European Union.
Chinese officers have been bruisingly dismissive of the UK's significance up to now.
But Mr Cleverly says he doesn't purchase into the narrative that Britain now not has affect or a voice.
In Beijing, he hopes to seek out each to do enterprise on points the place it may be carried out and make Britain's views recognized in areas the place there are disagreements.
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