Branding China as the number one threat to domestic and global security contending PM Rishi Sunak has promised a tougher stand.
Boris Johnson’s resignation led to a political war for supremacy for the next parliamentary head under the crown. After a long fight amidst 11 candidates, 2 are still in line to attain the seat of power under the titular crown.
Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak a man of India origin stands ahead with the vote bank lopsidedly inclined towards him. Being the Bookmaker’s favourite, Sunak has had a promising career as the Chancellor of Exchequer. Infact, some even believe that Johnson’s fall was heavily endowed to Sunak’s resignation.
The China factor has always been a matter of concern for the western nations. Similar to the rise of Russia in the 20th century, the western nation considers the ascension of the Dragon in the East as a threat.
Though they are not completely wrong on their part, everything that the West does should be taken with a pinch of salt.
China has been a major threat to the sovereignty of India specifically since the clash at Galawan and it will be interesting to watch a man of India origin to rule the ex-colonialists of India.
Rishi Sunak has stated that it will get difficult for China if he becomes Britain’s next prime minister. He called China the “number one threat” to domestic and global security. Apparently, this threat is a repercussion of his rival Liz Truss’ accusations on him, for being weak on China and Russia.
Rishi Sunak’s Plan on China
In an aim to prevent Chinese influence, Rishi Sunak proposed to shut down 30 Confucius Institutes in Britain that have influenced cultural and linguistic programmes. Moreover, he also said that he will “kick the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) out of our universities” by forcing higher education establishments to disclose foreign funding of more than £50,000 and reviewing research partnerships.
In an aim to prevent Chinese influence, Rishi Sunak proposed to shut down 30 Confucius Institutes in Britain that have influenced cultural and linguistic programmes. Moreover, he also said that he will “kick the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) out of our universities” by forcing higher education establishments to disclose foreign funding of more than £50,000 and reviewing research partnerships.
In addition to this he will look into banning Chinese acquisitions of key British assets, including strategically sensitive tech firms.
Sunak listed several complaints against China and said the Asian superpower was stealing UK’s technology and infiltrating its universities, supporting Vladimir Putin by buying Russian oil, and attempting to bully its neighbours, including Taiwan.
He said, “They torture, detain and indoctrinate their own people, including in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, in contravention of their human rights. And they have continually rigged the global economy in their favour by suppressing their currency.”
“Enough is enough. For too long, politicians in Britain and across the West have rolled out the red carpet and turned a blind eye to China’s nefarious activities and ambitions. I will change this on day 1 as the prime minister,” said Sunak.
Earlier, China’s state-run Global Times had said Sunak was the only candidate in the contest with “a clear and pragmatic view on developing UK-China ties”.
The West has taken an aggressive stance towards Russia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine but their stance to China is rather defensive where Chinese threat is talked of on all international platforms but no substantive steps are taken to curb the Chinese presence.
China has been a recurrent enemy and has faced criticism when they were accused of spreading the COVID-19 but the truth to these allegations are not substantiated.
The UK’s stand towards China under a man of Indian origin will have some riveting effects on world politics. Although the end of the fight between Truss and Sunak is nigh, we are rooting for the best candidate to win.
The name of the next PM will be disclosed on the 5th September, until then we will witness perpetual battle between the last two standing!
