To improve UK-China relations, focus on the grey areas

The sharp downturn in relations between the UK and China may have caught many in Britain by surprise

People in both countries do not fully understand each other, with media narratives fuelling mistrust. It’s time to take a step back and explore grounds for peace

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Union Jack flags are seen in front of the Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, beside the Houses of Parliament in London, on June 24, 2022. Photo: AP

Yue Parkinson

Yue Parkinson is a freelance writer and bilingual author who combines Chinese and Western empathy and know-how.

Published: 8:15am, 21 Jul 2023

Before relations between China and the United Kingdom deteriorated, my impression was that Britain was fully open to the world without much vigilance. However, since 2020, the tide has drastically turned, and the country is now extremely cautious and suspicious of China.

What is the proper attitude towards China? Since the British media prioritises domestic politics over foreign policy, it has failed to thoroughly explain the geopolitical competition between China and the United States. Many British people may have been confused by this massive change in attitude at 10 Downing Street. Their daily lives rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, whether they like it or not.

When I lived in China, my mindset was influenced by Chinese state media, and so I believed that what the Chinese government was doing was justified based on the principle of sovereignty. Over the last 19 years of living in the UK, I have been exposed to higher values of human rights and freedom, which are at odds with China’s emphasis on sovereignty and social responsibilities.

Judging by the Western values, the China government comes across as lagging behind trends in the West. I sensed that the China into which I was born, and where I was educated and worked, was very much like the UK in the 19th century – a nation with a strong economy, but an unfair and unequal society plagued by racism.