Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has called for Britain to "wean itself off" China in terms of trade, commerce, and technology. His comments come as some Conservative MPs push for China to be designated as a threat instead of just a challenge. Speaking on Politico's Power Play podcast, Sir Keir emphasized the need to address issues such as spying and interference. While acknowledging the difficulty of completely distancing from China, especially in areas like climate change, he suggested that progressive governments could work together to tackle these challenges.
Security concerns and reducing influence
Sir Keir emphasized the importance of addressing the security of the UK and concerns regarding spying and interference. He posed the question, "How do we wean ourselves off Chinese influence?" and called for progressive governments to join forces in finding solutions to these challenges.
Difficult relationship, but continued communication
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, on the other hand, dismissed the idea of disengaging from China, stating that it is not a credible option. Cleverly highlighted the importance of maintaining face-to-face communications, especially in a challenging and difficult relationship like the one with China. He acknowledged that there is important work to be done.
Overall, the debate surrounding the UK's relationship with China continues, with Sir Keir Starmer urging the country to reduce its dependence while the Foreign Secretary emphasizes the need for ongoing communication despite the challenges faced.
