UK should not become a 'client state' of China, warn ex-US and UK ministers

London/Beijing: – Chinese efforts to dominate natural and energy resources need to be challenged. In an article in a British daily, Robert McFarlane of the United States and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom drew attention to the growing Chinese influence. The former US and British ministers have warned that the United Kingdom cannot remain a Client State’ of a dangerous country like China in its pursuit of its goals in the field of climate change.

For the past two years, China and the Western countries have been at loggerheads over various issues, and tensions between the two sides have been steadily decaying. Western countries are targeting the Chinese ruling regime on issues such as 5G technology, South China Sea, Hongkong, Uyghurs, espionage, cyberattacks and Coronavirus pandemic. While doing so, the growing Chinese influence in the West using its economic power is also on the rise. The consequences of Chinese investments in many sensitive areas and leading companies in the US and Europe are also coming to the fore.

In this context, former senior ministers such as Robert McFarlane and Liam Fox drawing attention to the threat posed by China becomes significant. Robert McFarlane is a former US National Security Adviser. Liam Fox has been the defence and trade minister of the United Kingdom. In his article, he highlighted China’s investment in strategic areas and its potential consequences. The McFarlane-Fox duo warns that China is the world’s second-largest economy; the international community should take serious cognisance of its real agenda.

In a country like Congo, China controls 60% of its cobalt reserves. China has also taken control of lithium mines in Chile. China currently holds 96 strategic ports around the world. This includes ports in Europe, Asia and Africa. Former US and British officials have pointed out that China is expanding its list of facilities to be dominated through the schemes such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

McFarlane-Fox claimed ‘The threat of a country like China was rapidly gaining ground and was acquiring a solid foothold in the global system. However, after the Cold War, Western countries slowed down. After President Xi Jinping took office in 2013, he adopted policies like Unrestricted Warfare. Through its predatory economic policies, China began to influence other countries.

China’s Xi Jinping’s appetite for dictatorship has not waned, even after-effects of the Cold War became evident. He continues to violate human rights. Attempts are being made to recover lost regions. Officials in the United States and Britain also noted that Jinping’s ambition was to build a Chinese empire like an emperor.