IN FOCUS
By Keerthana Nambiar

The UK’s probable challenges in navigating relations between the US and China

On 3 December, Jamestown Foundation published a brief titled ‘End of the Golden Era: Sino-British Relations Enter Difficult Period’ putting light on the declining relations between China and the UK. The brief focuses on frictional points in the Sino-British relations in cultural, social, economic, and military aspects and how despite the fallouts they navigate the relations. According to Patrick Triglavcanin, the author of the brief, “The decline in relations between Beijing and London is driven in part by Britain’s renewed Indo-Pacific naval presence – a manifestation of the UK’s desire for closer security ties with the U.S. and its increasing tendency to view China as a geopolitical threat.”

Considering the complications in the bilateral relations, London and Beijing maintain a working relationship driven by trade and sharing common interests in tackling international issues like climate change and post-pandemic recovery. The frictional points in the Sino-British are:

First, the Hong Kong and Human rights issue. According to the Jamestown Foundation, “the situation in Hong Kong has been the catalyst for the recent decline in relations.” Britain was one of the first countries to take concrete steps against China imposing the National Security Law in Hong Kong and introducing a new visa for Hong Kong nationals to work and live in the UK. Britain’s reaction to the human rights issues against the Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region created more distance between the two. The UK moved on freeze assets, impose travel bans leading to bitter ties. The UK has a tough time navigating between economic interests and defending human rights.

Second, Britain’s ‘tilting’ towards the Indo-Pacific. The brief notes a foreign policy paper by the UK- Global Britain in a Competitive Age: The integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy which discusses the UK’s interests in the Indo-Pacific and labels China as a “systematic competitor.” The Integrated Review perceives China’s growing power as a threat to the international norms which Britain abides by. With the announcement of the AUKUS pact, the UK gave a clear signal of its interests in the Indo-Pacific and counter China’s rise in the region.

Third, the trade aspect of Sino-British relations. The UK has very conflicted views when it comes to China. On one side, the UK sees China as a geopolitical threat undermining international laws and on the other Chinese investments in the UK. Recently, the UK government has been apprehensive of the Chinese influence in domestic affairs and structured policies to scrutinize Chinese investment in key UK infrastructure projects, Chinese tech companies like Huawei.

Fourth, maintaining Sino-British relations. Quoting Xinhua, Jamestown Foundation said: “Despite the currently rocky relations, a working relationship between the UK and China endures. China considers the UK an important player in international affairs due to its economic strength, developed financial markets, and permanent position in the UN Security Council.” Even with the fallouts in the relations, conventional diplomacy remains intact between China and UK with cultural exchanges being the core of such interactions.

Patrick Triglavcanin, the author said: “To navigate this difficult period, the Sino-British relationship will need to be carefully managed, particularly on the UK side.” If the UK continues to seek closer ties with the US, China will eventually minimize its trade activities with it and if the UK accommodates Chinese behavior it will push away from its Western allies especially the US. “In this scenario, the UK would find it difficult to make new economic inroads around the globe; and due its relationship with China could even be perceived as a national security threat that lacks a solid commitment toward human rights,” says the brief.

According to Jamestown Foundation, “the Sino-British relationship is ultimately transactional.” Both the countries see each other as an opportunity to recover from their own complications and work together in areas of cooperation for development. “However, both sides must undertake a precarious balancing act in order to navigate escalating geopolitical competition and deepening normative differences,” concludes Triglavcanin.

 References
“End of the Golden Era: Sino-British Relations Enter Difficult Period,” Jamestown Foundation, 3 December 2021

IN BRIEF
By Dincy Adlakha and Avishka Ashok

INTERNAL
Jimmy Lai and other Apple Daily staff face new sedition charges
On 28 December, the Hong Kong prosecutors filed a charge for seditious publications against Apple Daily founder and business tycoon Jimmy Lai and other staff members of the newspaper. Six members of the staff and Jimmy Lai appeared in a court to face accusations of conspiracy to print, publish and sell seditious notes. Prosecutors mentioned in the charge sheet that the writings could “bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection” against the government and state. Apple Daily closed operations in June this year as the pressure from authorities increased. (“HK Apple Daily founder, staff face new sedition charge,” The Straits Times, 28 December 2021)

TECHNOLOGY
Space program suspects Starlink of testing Chinese capabilities in space
On 27 December, Global Times reported that China’s space program suspected the US company Starlink of intentionally causing harm to the Chinese Space Station to test its capabilities and reaction to sudden stimuli in space. It addressed the two near-accidents that occurred in space and was revealed during a verbal report delivered by the permanent mission of China to the United Nations. The report observed that China launched five missions in 2021 during which two satellites launched by Starlink passed by at very close proximity on 1 July and 21 October. A senior expert in the field from China said: “we can't rule out the possibility that the move is intended to test China's capacity in space to check whether China can accurately grasp the satellites' actions." (“Two close encounters of Starlink satellites possibly aimed to test China’s sensibility in space: expert,” Global Times, 27 December 2021

REGIONAL
Brunei’s Minister appreciates relations with China in 2021
On 27 December, Brunei’s Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Haji Ali appreciated the growth of tourism cooperation between the two countries. He observed that the relations between Brunei and China had entered a “new normal” of tourism activities in the past year despite the challenges that were thrown by the coronavirus pandemic. He also appreciated China’s support that had contributed to connecting Brunei with numerous cities in China and said: “These connections have further led to increased economic activities and opportunities in the areas of tourism, agriculture, construction, maritime and others. With over 74,000 tourist arrivals in 2019, China has always been regarded as one of the top three source markets for Brunei. We hope to welcome more tourist arrivals once travel resumes in the near future.” (“Brunei, China tourism cooperation continues to strengthen despite COVID-19: minister,” Xinhua Net, 28 December 2021)

INTERNATIONAL
China to process visa applications of US officials for Winter Olympics
On 27 December, Global Times reported that China has received visa applications from important members of the US delegation to attend the Winter Olympics. Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the same and said that China shall process these applications due to reciprocity principle and international customs. He said: “Now with regard to the US request to send a team of government officials to China and their visa applications, the Chinese side will handle them in accordance with international customary practice, relevant regulations and the principle of reciprocity.” The US had earlier announced a diplomatic boycott of the event. (Liu Caiyu, “China receives visa applications of US officials to attend Beijing 2022, will process based on reciprocity principle: FM,” Global Times, 27 December 2021)

Seattle to Shanghai flight turned back due to COVID protocols
On 27 December, a Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle to Shanghai was returned mid-air due to new requirements related to COVID-19 cleaning services. The decision to turn the flight was taken as China imposes new and stricter guidelines ahead of the Winter Olympics. The country is seeing an increased number of locally transmitted cases and is mandating more restrictions. The flight was turned back as the passengers’ COVID-19 test results expired. The move triggered a response from the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco saying that the new mandates at Shanghai Pudong International Airport “require significantly extended ground time and are not operationally viable for Delta.” (“Delta: Flight to Shanghai turned back because of COVID rules,” The Asahi Shimbun, 27 December 2021)