Plans by chancellor Philip Hammond for a trade mission to Beijing have been soured by a “gunboat diplomacy” row sparked by defence secretary Gavin Williamson’s…
Plans by chancellor Philip Hammond for a trade mission to Beijing have been soured by a “gunboat diplomacy” row sparked by defence secretary Gavin Williamson’s announcing he would send a new British aircraft carrier to China’s backyard.
China’s ambassador to London complained to the Foreign Office about Mr Williamson’s speech and British government insiders said the “idiotic speech” had complicated the proposed trip to Beijing by Mr Hammond, due to happen in the next few days.
George Osborne, former chancellor, said the row characterised Britain’s confused approach to China, with Mrs May’s government unable to decide whether Beijing was an economic partner or a strategic military threat.
“It is very difficult to work out what the British government’s China policy is at the moment,” Mr Osborne told BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster. “Ultimately it’s the responsibility of Theresa May to sort this out. At the moment it looks all at sea.”
Mr Williamson announced on Monday that the new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth would be deployed to the Pacific on its maiden voyage, and that Britain was prepared to use “lethal” force to deter countries that “flout international law”.
