People's
Daily takes swipe at UK's 'eccentric acts' as Chinese premier visits London
theguardian.com,
Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent, 18 June 2014
Britain is an "old, declining empire" which resorts to "eccentric acts" to hide its embarrassment over its declining power, an official Chinese newspaper has claimed on the second day of a visit by the country's premier, Li Keqiang, to London.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang applauds as British Chancellor George Osborne prepares to address the delegates of the UK-China Financial Forum Photograph: Sang Tan/AP |
Britain is an "old, declining empire" which resorts to "eccentric acts" to hide its embarrassment over its declining power, an official Chinese newspaper has claimed on the second day of a visit by the country's premier, Li Keqiang, to London.
As China
was given the chance to take a decisive stake in the next stage of Britain's
energy and transport infrastructure on the first day of the premier's visit, the
Global Times said a "rising" country such as China should seek to
understand a declining power.
The paper,
which is owned by the official Communist party People's Daily, took a swipe at
Britain after reports last week that Beijing had threatened to call off Li's
visit if he were not allowed to meet the Queen. The premier and his wife began
their visit on Tuesday with an audience with the Queen at Windsor Castle.
The Global
Times wrote of the reports of a Chinese threat to cancel Li's visit:
"Diplomats might break out into laughter at such rhetoric. This hype only
serves to reflect the narrow-mindedness of the British media and even the whole
of its society. The once-powerful British empire must now resort to such
trickery to manifest its pride."
The official
newspaper added: "Perhaps Chinese people should forgive Britain's
confusing sentiment. A rising country should understand the embarrassment of an
old declining empire and at times the eccentric acts it takes to hide such
embarrassment. Diplomacy has to be based on realistic recognition of the two
countries' power. No matter for China or the UK, it will be tiring if they try
to distort this reality."
Global Times - Ragout Photograph: Global Times |
The
official spokesman for the prime minister, David Cameron, sought to shrug off
the significance of the article, telling a Westminster media briefing: "I
read in the Times of London Premier Li's article when he said this was a great
nation. That is the prime minister of China's view."
The barbed
comments echo an editorial in the paper during Cameron's visit to China last
December. At the time, it described Britain as "just an old European
country apt for travel and study".
The
criticism follows agreements between Britain and China on the first day of Li's
visit that will allow Chinese companies to own and operate a nuclear power
station and to help build high-speed rail lines.
The
agreements are among trade deals worth £14bn agreed with Beijing. They have
prompted Cameron to declare that Britain is playing a part in the rise of China
– something he called a defining event of the 21st century.
The two
most controversial aspects of the deals will allow Chinese firms to own and
operate a Chinese-designed nuclear power station and to build and operate rail
lines in Britain. The Chinese have a mixed safety record on high-speed rail.
On Tuesday,
Cameron said: "Ours is truly a partnership for growth, reform and
innovation. Our partnership goes well beyond the economic field. The UK
recognises that the rise of China is one of the defining events of our century.
"We
welcome the fact that China's economic growth is lifting millions out of
poverty. As premier Li noted, as China grows in economic power that brings
greater responsibilities on the world stage."
The
government moved to stem criticism of cooperation in the highly sensitive area
of civil nuclear power by saying it was part of an overall agreement to tackle
climate change. China and Britain also signed a joint statement on climate
change.
Li's welcome fit for a Queen as Britain and China sign key deals
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