On June 8-13 a Chinese delegation headed by member of the Politburo of the CCP and Vice Premier He Lifeng visited the United Kingdom.
Both components of the visit shall be addressed; let us start with the latter, more important one.
London meeting between US and Chinese delegations
Let us note that the main result of the meeting between He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Geneva was the three-month postponement of implementing the “deadly tariffs” against each other. In effect, the two countries only took a step back from a full cessation of trade between the two main economic actors globally, the consequences of which would have been felt in the entire global economy.
The start of discussions on decreasing the trade barriers introduced against each other has been postponed for a month. During this time, London offered to host talks, which was accepted by both sides. In addition to Bessent, the US delegation also included Commerce Secretary Lutnick and Trade Representative Greer.
As was the case following the Geneva talks, there is not much public information available to be able to draw any precise conclusions. The agenda was allegedly quite narrow (this seems dubious) and was centred on what price Washington is to pay to Beijing to return to the ‘pre-tariff situation’ in the rare earth metal trade sphere.
By the way, the situation arising from the US introducing its “deadly tariffs”, which is now threatening the most progressive and important defence manufacturers, illustrates the inability of certain US presidential advisers to adequately assess China’s potential reaction. Bluff and blackmail are risky instruments in all sorts of games, including in business and international politics.
While sitting at the table of the “Great Global Game” and being one of its significant players, the tenets of realpolitik cannot be exchanged for ballet poses and dramatic rants.
In this case, Washington ‘got off the hook’. With the ‘counter measures’ in the rare earth metal sphere being cancelled, Beijing is satisfied with the US lifting the restrictions on Chinese students studying at American universities, as well as the restrictions on exporting modern IT technologies (particularly in relation to AI) to China.
Besides the aforementioned details, perhaps the most important result of the London talks was that Beijing once again demonstrated its readiness for constructive dialogue with its main geopolitical opponent, despite all bilateral issues. Beijing is seeking mutual gains, a win-win situation. Thus, such a development is good news for the rest of the world.
However, a positive outcome is dependent upon reciprocity, a step that the US is currently not ready for. In terms of American policy on China, the supporters of the ‘peace through force’ strategy within the US establishment are continuously becoming more influential. These supporters not only control the Congress, but also make up part of the 47th US President’s administration.
Firstly, such an approach directly contradicts the Chinese strategy. Secondly, it simply will not work in relation to China. This was clear before, but it became even clearer with the beginning of the ‘tariff war’.
Attempts to dig up past accusations of Beijing violating human rights in autonomous regions of the country and Hong Kong present a serious obstacle to the bettering of bilateral relations. In this regard, the arrest of a certain Joshua Wong, who actively participated in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong riots, attracted quite the attention. Today, he is a favourite of the global ‘liberoid gang’ and a ‘political moth’ like some of the notorious Russian ‘relocants’. Here the signature of Trump’s political enemies is evident.
However, there are also a number of positive signals being sent in bilateral relations. Firstly, a telephone call between the leaders of the two countries preceded the London meeting. The White House gave the green light for a leak about how China is not years, but months behind in AI technologies. This was positively assessed in Beijing. Referencing Bessent, there is talk of possibly prolonging the pause in the ‘tariff war’ after the three-month break currently in effect. The Global Times wrote that Secretary of Defence Colby is considering the possible US withdrawal from AUKUS. By the way, Russia is not involved whatsoever in this project – even though many claim the opposite.
In turn, the Chinese Minister of Defence stated his country’s readiness to maintain contacts with his American colleagues at various levels. He also noted that that the Chinese diaspora in Los Angeles is in no way threatened by the chaos that erupted in the area recently.
These are but initials hints at the possible constructive development of relations between two of the world’s leading powers. Today, it is difficult to predict what lies in store for them.
Negotiations with members of the UK government
It should first and foremost be noted that the Chinese delegation’s visit to the UK, headed by He Lifeng, is a continuation of attempts to restore the bilateral dialogue since it was undermined in 2019 by the rapid deterioration of the international situation in general. Such attempts have been ongoing since the second half of last year and have become an important element of Beijing focusing more on its policy vis-à-vis Europe, something that was welcomed on the continent.
Brits have for centuries been pondering whether they relate to Europeans or not. This is quite an interesting question considering that the world order is undergoing radical changes, which have only been accelerated with the start of the ‘tariff war’. In trying to find its new place in the world, the UK is trying to rehabilitate relations with China, the prospects of which were described by former prime minister David Cameron in the mid-2010s as a coming “golden era”.
Today such words are not being uttered. London’s initiative, i.e. Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Beijing last October, was to test the waters. This was added to by the visit of UK Finance Minister Reeves to China in January, 2025. She was the first person He Lifeng held talks with following his arrival in London.
The following day, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao entered into negotiations with his British colleague, Jonathan Reynolds, during which they discussed with EU representatives old and new issues blocking the development of bilateral trade relations (which are promising even now).
It seems that it is still too early to speak of any specifics following the latest round of Sino-British talks. The experts that view them as a ‘restart’ of bilateral relations are likely correct in their assessments.
As with US-Chinese relations, this is already something in these troubled times.
Vladimir Terekhov, expert on the Asia-Pacific region
