PRC largest supplier of critical goods to Russia’s military

Whitehall appoints new ambassador to Beijing; Washington tightens investment restrictions from the PRC

Observing China is the essential newsletter to understand the UK-PRC relationship, explained in the context of global developments.

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International relations are rarely straightforward, but the last week has seen an increasing number of variables thrown in that make the landscape – and particularly how Britain will navigate it – about as complicated as an inheritance battle between dozens of second and third cousins.

Donald Trump, President of the United States (US), sided with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, in a United Nations (UN) General Assembly vote to end the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, pledged to increase the UK’s defence spending, in a move largely thought to reassure Trump, while also casting a warning to Russia itself. Meanwhile, His Majesty’s (HM) Government continues to rebuild strong commercial ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), even while being aware of Beijing’s support for Russia’s war machine in Ukraine, and after sanctioning ten companies in the PRC for directly supplying Putin’s military. Earlier this month, David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, also lamented Trump’s slashing of the USAID budget, saying it could be a ‘big strategic mistake’ which could allow Beijing to further its global influence.