The UK has to play the long game when it comes to China

Whatever the outcomes over Huawei and Hong Kong, the relationship will get worse before it gets better, writes Hamish McRae

China’s actions over Hong Kong have strained relations with the UK (AP)

We have to deal with China. The rest of the world has to deal with China. And there will be a difficult 20 years ahead.

Right now there are two central issues in the UK’s relationship with China, whether Huawei is to be excluded from the UK’s telecom infrastructure, and what is happening in Hong Kong. Both are difficult and will continue to be so. Whatever the outcomes, the relationship will get worse before it gets better.

In global terms both matter, Huawei because the UK was the bridgehead that gave the company to international markets, and Hong Kong for many reasons but from an economic perspective because it has been the main financial link between mainland China and the rest of the world. But what will matter even more will be the way the US and Germany grow, or more probably reverse, their links with China.