The Prime Minister has called for an international coalition of free countries to oppose the growing influence of China’s authoritarian dictatorship. But it needs to be a lot bolder. The wheels of international diplomacy turn slowly and the government should make full and immediate use of the powers it already has.
Three decisive steps are already possible.
Companies from Western liberal democracies are bolstering an authoritarian dictatorship
First, we should stop entities under the control or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from buying up our companies, especially infrastructure firms. A Chinese company, for example, controls about 25 per cent of North Sea oil and other companies own gas, water and electricity suppliers in the UK. All Chinese companies are under the influence of the CCP, whether they are nominally private or not.
A good deal of confusion is caused by treating all foreign direct investment (FDI) as beneficial, and occasionally our government proudly declares that the UK has attracted more Chinese FDI than other nations.
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