Nochinacrisis

On page 5 of your March 17 edition you report that the Prime Minister perceives a threat from China, and, on the same page, that the former head of MI6 “warns China represents a generational threat”, but on page 13 write “...ministers published a review of postbrexit foreign policy which includes plans for a positive trade and investment relationship with China”, and Dominic Raab says, “If we restrict [trade deals] to countries with Ehcr-level standards of human rights, we’re not going to do many trade deals”.

There are many things that may be said against the Chinese government, but a threat to the UK is not one of them, certainly not a threat for which nuclear weapons are an appropriate response. China has experienced existential threats from the West during the last two centuries, and, now that it is strong, is asserting its power in its home waters, asserting every hectare of its territorial extent, and national homogeneity, by enforced cultural assimilation if necessary. This may be obnoxious, but it is much the same as the ways in which Britain, other European countries and the US acquired the world hegemony to which they believe, or used to believe, themselves entitled. China has recently sent large numbers of its brightest students to UK universities, who are likely to have returned to China well disposed to the UK, and who are likely become influential as they get older. Hardly the actions of a potential enemy.

I suggest we try to get on as well as we can with China, and not get dragged into a cold war on Uncle Sam’s coat-tails.

ROGER WEST Swanston View, Edinburgh