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GuardianJAN 19
UK Military Chief Makes First Visit to China Since 2015
Above: Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin arriving ahead of Officer Cadets commissioning as Army Officers during the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in Camberley, Surrey, on Aug. 9, 2024. Image copyright: Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Sir Tony Radakin’s visit to China is a baffling misstep. At a time when Beijing supports Russia, threatens Taiwan, and is committing grave human rights abuses, sending the U.K.’s top military official signals weakness, not strategy. This ill-judged trip looks more like appeasement than diplomacy, and risks legitimizing a regime openly hostile to Western democratic values.
Establishment-critical narrative
Sir Tony Radakin’s visit to China was an astute and necessary move. In a world facing mounting uncertainty, the U.K. must put pragmatic engagement over outdated ideology. Dialogue with China—the U.K.'s third-largest trading partner—paves the way to securing economic stability, cooperation on global challenges like climate change, and a steady, independent foreign policy rooted in U.K. interests.