‘China can’t be allowed to dominate Britain and drive us to depend on them’

I like and admire our Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly. He’s man and an incredible diplomat.

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

We have to be extra coherent and we have to be extra sturdy.

The nice historical Chinese strategist Sun Tzu stated that defence in opposition to defeat got here from realizing each oneself and one’s adversaries. We must study that.

Looking at what the present Chinese Government says in regards to the West, it’s clear that they search to not reside in concord, however to dominate – and that’s as a result of freedom anyplace is a menace to one-party Communists in every single place.

China’s insurance policies and actions search to undercut our industries and to make us economically dependent. They need to break the hyperlink between Europe and the US, and they’re succeeding. They need 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 critical says in any other case, however for the Foreign Office to argue that anybody who questions the present technique merely desires to keep away from coping with China is nonsense.

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

Above all, we’d like as a matter of urgency to minimize our financial dependency on China and to diversify our provide chains. Every yr 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 underneath 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 knowledge and Artificial Intelligence, leads science and humanity to a darker future.

Those who govern us must 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 properly in reaching it.

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