How Boris Johnson should deal with China

Boris Johnson now has a hefty majority in Parliament. He can reshape Britain. He can redefine the Conservative party. And he can – to use a well-worn phrase – ‘get Brexit done’. Which also means that after more than three years of being engulfed with Brexit, the government can now begin to turn its attention to the UK’s relationship with China, and in particular our responsibilities for our former colony, Hong Kong.

The Prime Minister could potentially go in two directions. He may prioritise trade deals, even if that means sacrificing our values, our conscience and our reputation. Or he could say that ‘Global Britain’ will be a nation that, yes, trades with the world but also stands up for its values and defends others struggling for them. A Global Britain that not only wishes, in the words of the Brexit campaign, to ‘take back control’, but also champions freedom, human rights, human dignity and the rule of law around the world.