by EMANUELE SCIMIA
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) and British Prime Minister Theresa May
While British Prime Minister Theresa May probably may like to take a leaf out of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s book, she is no stateswoman like her counterpart nor is Britain comparable to Germany in geopolitical terms. As Merkel effectively engages China and Sino-German trade turnover grows, Beijing sees Germany as the locomotive that pulls the EU economic and political trains. On the other hand, post-Brexit Britain, faced with a choice between America and China, may finally opt for the tested relationship with Washington.
Thanks to her blend of foreign policy realism and idealism, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is commonly credited with being the Western leader best equipped to deal with Chinese leaders.
Some in Europe think Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May is drawing inspiration from its German counterpart in revising her predecessor David Cameron’s “gung-ho” approach to China; and if this is not the new British Iron Lady’s true intention, a current spat between London and Beijing proves she should exactly rush across the Channel to learn from the Frau Kanzler how to effectively engage Beijing.
May’s recent decision to postpone the $23.5 billion Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project, in which the state-owned China General Nuclear Power Company (CGN) has one-third stake, apparently introduces a new paradigm, with Britain’s interest in attracting Chinese foreign investment that now must be compatible with national security.
In a similar case, Australia upheld on August 19 that it would block the $7.7 billion sale of Ausgrid energy grid to Beijing’s State Grid and Hong Kong’s Cheung Kong Infrastructure – Canberra explained quite differently its position, bluntly advancing national security motivations.
Many see behind London’s turnaround – which has triggered harsh criticism from Beijing – the United States’ hand. It is worth noting that the US government recently accused CGN of attempting to steal its nuclear technology and secrets.
Washington was disappointed with the British government in March 2015, when Britain was the first European Union country to join the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China’s alternative to the multilateral institutions that the US shaped in the wake of the Second World War.
The engine of Europe
The problem for May is that she is (still) not a stateswoman like Merkel and, above all, today’s Britain is not comparable to Germany in geopolitical terms.
Apart from the personal ability of Merkel, one of the most respected world leaders, in general Berlin has now a greater relevance than London, something that will matter in the future Sino-British dialogue, not least should Beijing decide to re-calibrate its diplomatic and economic strategy toward London in response to the latest events.
Germany is China’s largest trading partner in Europe, as Britain ranks third. In 2015, the Sino-German trade turnover totalled $78 billion, against $62.3 billion between London and Beijing.
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