Engaging with China isn't naive — it's necessary. China drives a third of global economic growth, supports 370,000 British jobs and is the UK's third largest trading partner. A data-driven, cross-government strategy that cooperates where possible while confronting threats head-on is exactly the kind of grown-up approach Britain needs to deliver secure growth and real benefits for working people.
Rushing to reset ties with Beijing without a coherent China strategy is a serious mistake. Starmer's government is simultaneously courting Chinese investment and trying to limit Beijing's footprint in critical infrastructure — a contradiction that undermines trust with Washington and risks derailing a US trade deal. Britain needs a proper plan, not a handshake that papers over deep strategic incoherence.
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