BLAIR: WEST MUST UNITE OVER CHINA
TONY Blair yesterday called on Western nations to work together to counter the rise of China as “the world’s second superpower”.
Delivering the annual Ditchley lecture, the former PM called for a policy towards Beijing of “strength plus engagement” as he warned the era of Western political and economic dominance was ending. Sir Tony said Western powers needed to boost defence spending while extending their “soft power” by building ties with developing nations.
And he called for an end to “craziness” in their domestic politics to restore “reason and
LECTURE strategy”. He said: “How did Britain reach a point where Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn came for a short but consequential time to shape our politics?”
He added China “aggressively” sought influence while Russia’s attack on Ukraine showed “accepted norms”
cannot be relied on.