Opinion | Where has the 'Golden Era' gone?
By Philip Yeung, university teacher
PKY480@gmail.com
As late as 2019, Theresa May, then British Prime Minister was still rhapsodizing about the "golden era" in UK-China relations. David Cameron and Gordon Brown, before her, also hailed this blossoming relationship. Then, bird-brained Boris, hot-headed Truss and the spineless Sunak, decided to play American poodle. Within four years, the glittering gold has lost its luster and became rusty metal.
The relationship has fallen into the rabbit hole of anti-China conspiracy.
Its deterioration is down to three things: the riots in Hong Kong, the storm across the Taiwan Strait, and wild accusations of abuse in Xinjiang--though all three are strictly China's internal affairs.
Hong Kong was the tipping point. Britain feels it has an obligation to its former colony. But they forgot one thing: it was Chris Patten, the UK's last governor in Hong Kong who planted the ticking time-bomb—preaching a meaningless one-person-one-vote for the city not prepared for the madness.
Britain accuses Beijing of breaking its promise to uphold "One-Country-Two-Systems". But Beijing is not the culprit. Remember, Beijing waited patiently for 23 years for the local enactment of Article 23 legislation for national security. Meanwhile, hordes of activists went wild destroying the system, paralyzing the legislature, tossing Molotov cocktails, attacking police officers, and occupying the urban center for over 9 months. No lip service for One Country, zero respect for Two Systems. It was only one system, their system--a state of lawlessness no Western democracy, including Britain, would tolerate. These rabble-rousers were lost souls. They trashed a legendary commercial city, turning it into political purgatory. Instead of enjoying the best of both worlds—a high degree of autonomy plus unfettered access to economic opportunities, it became the worst of both worlds, losing its harmony, civility and legendary rule of law which was soon replaced by the law of the jungle. Never a glorious fight for freedom, it was an outbreak of populist insanity where teenagers barely out of their diapers were yelling for an "independent" Hong Kong. Lord Patten should have stuck to eating his Hong Kong egg tarts.
With One-Country-Two-Systems in disarray, Taiwan is on the slippery slope, as separatists clamor for independence too. Taiwan becomes a pawn in America's game of encirclement against China. British MP's foolishly poked the dragon in the eye by visiting Taiwan to offer separatists vocal support. Imagine Beijing backing Argentina to repossess the Falklands or Malvinas. That's how much it hurts.
Britain is suffering a cost of living crisis, with an epidemic of shoplifting that exceeds 8 million thefts last year. With a smaller economic footprint after Brexit, it badly needs to find bigger markets. But in its 2021 Integrated Review, it chose to see China as a "systemic challenge" that poses threats to its "security, prosperity and values". These empty words are neither here nor there for China has no imperial or territorial ambitions. Militarizing the South China Sea islands is an act of survival against US encirclement to keep its vital sea lanes open for commerce. How would UK react if other nations challenge its control of the English Channel?
As for Xinjiang, it's just monstering China. The West hasn't given China any credit for abolishing slavery in Tibet, nor for Affirmative Action measures that give minorities a better life. Government agencies and state-owned enterprises are each assigned a poor rural area to revitalize—paying farmers to grow crops and then purchase their harvests. No capitalist society would ever contemplate doing that. That's why I can safely discount the possibility of persecuting the Uyghurs. Yes, China controls, but it doesn't torture or exterminate. It re-educates but does not discriminate. Britain is outrageously trying to deport refugees to Rwanda. Is it still qualified to finger-point at China?
One more thing. China doesn't do coercion, only retaliation, a tit-for-tat for a flurry of sanctions. Name one incident in which China has threatened British security or interests. You can't, because there is none. Britain must choose between kowtowing to America and engaging China in a win-win partnership.
Forget the labels and the slogans. Scratch the surface and you will find a cuddly panda. The Golden Era is not dead and buried. It just needs to be resuscitated.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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