It was five years ago, in other words an eternity. Xi Jinping was on a state visit to the United Kingdom. David Cameron, the British Conservative Prime Minister, had spared neither the ceremonial nor the good graces. The Chinese president responded with a generously open checkbook, including the official signing of co-funding for the EDF-built Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in the west of England. " Golden age " relations between the two countries, self-proclaimed by the British, were in full swing.
Nothing was taboo. After this co-financing, the Chinese were invited to submit a project to build a nuclear power plant of their own technology. The stock exchanges of the two countries had to come closer. And Huawei, the telecoms group, was welcome. This policy has largely worked: from 2000 to 2019, Chinese companies have invested 50 billion euros in the United Kingdom, twice what Germany received and triple from France or Italy, according to a study by Rhodium Group.
" No chance "
Brexit, the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House, the Sino-American trade war and the new security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong shattered these ambitions. After much hesitation, under pressure from the Americans, Boris Johnson authorized Huawei's participation in the British 5G telephone network in January, but in a maximum of 35% of equipment and outside of strategic elements of the network. The tenant at 10 Downing Street now appears on the verge of hardening its position. In July, he is expected to announce a new policy, presumably to further limit Huawei’s access to British telecoms.
For supporters of Brexit, the tensions between Washington and Beijing represent a harsh reminder of reality. They dreamed of a "Global Britain", who would move away from Europe to better turn to the rest of the world. "The two countries they wanted to get closer to were the United States and China, analyzes Nick Witney, of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank. No chance ! With Donald Trump, the relationship with the Americans is a bit complicated at the moment, and the Chinese were very aggressive during the pandemic. "
London finds itself having to play a tightrope walker number between the two superpowers
London finds itself having to play a tightrope walker number between the two superpowers. While trying to manage relations with Beijing, the British give priority to a free trade agreement with Washington, whose trade negotiations are underway. Mike Pompeo, the American secretary of state, hit the nail on the head on June 16, saying that the United States was "Ready to help our friends in the UK (…) whether to build nuclear power plants or develop 5G networks ”.
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