Britain naively gave away too much in the negotiations with China that led to the “Joint Declaration” on Hong Kong. The PRC waited until the West was totally dependent on its economy before cracking down on the territory. The people of Hong Kong were abandoned as those of us who had lived there in the 1980s knew they would be. The locals knew as well of course and those who could afford to secured Australian or Canadian passports well before 1997.
The Chinese take a long term view and know their strengths. Manufacturing is one of them and their goods dominate western economies. Apple, for example, is effectively a Chinese brand. Modern China is one of the wonders of the world. Whilst western democracies continue their drift to ungovernability those in charge in Peking smile inscrutably and count the dollars.
The choice between being democratic and poor, on the one hand, and totalitarian and increasingly rich on the other has long since been won. As, incidentally, it will be in Russia. Both nations are used to Emperors and whilst Russia’s current one has overreached himself his successor is likely to be impressed by the Chinese model, and follow it.
The era of Western hegemony is passing. India, increasingly a dictatorship under Modi, is the third potential pillar of pragmatic big power domination along with China and Russia. We need to wake up to these new realities.
Paddy’s Blogs in a crazy world 
Britain is too small a country yet also significant to be excluded from major political power blocs such as China, EU and the US.
The EU is Britain’s natural home. Especially as America becomes more inward-looking with unstable partisan leadership. Britain must rejoin the EU as soon as possible if it seeks to have any influence or respect in the world.
Starmer cannot continue to ignore Trump’s outlandish behaviour if he is to be taken seriously as a world statesman.
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