By Christina Xu '18
Marking a so-called “golden era” in Chinese-English relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his first state visit to the U.K. this past Tuesday. The president, who was ushered into Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage as part of an elaborate procession, was welcomed warmly. Xi addressed members of Parliament at Westminster, took part in a lavish state dinner, and spoke with English Prime Minister David Cameron.Through this visit, China hopes to build on efforts to demonstrate its commercial opportunities as it was able to during a September visit to the United States. Meanwhile, the U.K. hopes to gain Chinese investments in infrastructure and trade. On Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron noted that the visit would result in more than £30 billion of trade and investment, leading to the creation of more than 3,900 jobs across England.Discussions between Cameron and Xi have resulted in a pledge to “enhance bilateral trade and investment” and cooperation on major initiatives such as the British national infrastructure plan and Britain’s high-speed rail. Other initiatives include the launch of a feasibility study for free trade between the nations and the construction of the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant in Britain. Additionally, domestic and foreign policies were discussed; China and Great Britain have agreed to refrain from cyber-espionage and to liberalize visa requirements. The leaders also shared ideas on ISIS, Ukraine, and regional security in Asia.Great Britain’s enthusiasm in pursuing these deals has caused an outcry from critics, who claim the visit reflects England’s willingness to overlook Chinese human rights abuses in order to benefit from heightened Chinese economic influence. Protestors took to the streets following a Confucius Institute conference that both Cameron and Xi attended. Free Tibet campaigners and students of the University College of London and the London School of Economics wielded signs protesting Chinese treatment of activists, who are harassed and tortured.The talks held with the U.K. seem to reflect a trend of European nations eager to join economic forces with China in spite of flagrant human rights abuses. Germany, which has an economy based largely on exports of advanced industrial goods, has tied its economy rather tightly to the growing nation; in 2014, it exported €74.5 billion worth of goods to China. Though Germany, which has a stronger economic relationship with China than Britain, does not keep entirely silent about Chinese human rights abuses, it rarely publicly criticizes China. Since 2007, when Angela Merkel angered the Chinese government after meeting with the Dalai Lama, Germany has remained relatively quiet.As demonstrated by these talks, China is realizing a new capacity to wield its economic power to keep large world powers quiet about issues as serious as human rights. Moving forward, this poses a risk to the balance of international power and the willingness of China to, as James Rubin, former chief spokesman for the U.S. State Department, “be a responsible member of the international community.”Sources:http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34586679http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/world/europe/xis-visit-to-britain-highlights-broader-shift-in-concerns-about-china.html?_r=0http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-xi-jinping-to-meet-royals-politicians-on-first-u-k-state-visit-1445335945