From Brexit to China, ‘cakeism’ – the idea that it is possible to govern without making hard choices – appears to be the defining philosophy of Boris Johnson’s government. A hawk to the hawks and a dove to the doves; the Prime Minister wants to be all things to all men. The result is that the government have so far failed to make the hard decisions needed when it comes to China. But as with lockdown in March 2020, dither and delay is only going to increase the difficulty and trouble ahead down the road.
The publication of the integrated review today makes this painfully clear. The report’s most significant passage is buried 62 pages in:
‘China’s growing international stature is by far the most significant factor in the world today, with major implications for British values and interests and for the structure and shape of the international order.’
If the government believes that the challenge posed by China is ‘by far the most significant factor’, why was this not at the heart of the report? The answer is simple: because the desire to fudge China policy, to sit on the fence as hawks and doves within the Conservative party battle it out, means that the recommendations which follow this bold and realistic statement about the state of play in geopolitics are deeply underwhelming.
It is naïve to imagine that Britain can hold a ‘twin-track’ foreign policy
There is an enigmatic tone at the heart of the integrated review, perhaps best encapsulated in this paragraph:
‘We will continue to pursue a positive economic relationship, including deeper trade links and more Chinese investment in the UK.
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