Is this an attempt to fill immigration gaps after EU immigration collapses? I don't believe the government actually cares about anything that going on in HK.
Britain's motivation is they contend that this is a violation of the treaty between Britain and China from the handover of Hong Kong [1], and letting one other country violate your treaties with impunity makes other countries think they can get away with the same thing.
But at the same time there's also no appetite in Britain to go head-to-head with China - in fact, if the HK stuff wasn't going on they'd be looking for a trade deal right now.
So if you see something that's a response, but not a really tough muscular response, that's exactly what the UK government is aiming for.
[1] https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-hongkong-protests-britain/...
Still, it is the decent thing to do. It also underlines once again this country has no real power or influence left in the superpower age. Before, we could at least try to get the EU to go to bat for our interests, and have a real impact. We have none of that now, which is probably part of the reason the Chinese accelerated the process.
the same EU that rewrote its coronavirus report several times in fear of CCP repercussions?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/world/europe/disinformati...
come on
Then there is also the reduced power of the EU post-Brexit. Just because Brexit costs the UK influence doesn’t mean it doesn’t cost the EU too — without the UK, the EU is only about 85% of the GDP of the other two big trade giants (the USA and China are each about equal to what the EU was with the UK).
And that big flashing neon “if” is still true with a competent government, let alone the current lot which (as per recent news) is pouring money into a failed multinational project that cannot fit their requirements just to avoid the embarrassment of continuing to spend money on entirely successful multinational projects that happen to be EU-branded.
Also, what do ducks have to do with anything?
> yet another canard
1a : a false or unfounded report or story especially : a fabricated report The report about a conspiracy proved to be a canard. b : a groundless rumor or belief the widespread canard that every lawyer is dishonest
But there is also no reason why they should even try, whereas before there was.
This makes no sense. There's countless examples of independent nations/supra-national bodies etc. with wildly diverging goals across many areas also managing to work together on shared goals.
You seem to be pushing the same false dichotomy again, that is, that it's either the UK within the EU, else a cold war type situation, and there is no possibility whatsoever of a third situation. I'd suggest that's very obviously bogus.
What I find revealing is that years on from the referendum it's the same crude, tired and spurious anti-Brexit arguments being trotted out. If after all this time the only tactic is Project Fear mk. infinity, what can one conclude about the supposed benefits of EU membership?
> the same EU that rewrote its coronavirus report several times in fear of CCP repercussions?
And you’re saying it to people who are coming up with reasons why the post-Brexit EU doesn’t share your concerns.
This does not require a “cold war type situation”. It just requires every other EU member state to have more important things from their own perspective.
It’s not hatred you’re seeing from the EU, it is apathy.
The false dichotomy is your own.
several of which are keen to preserve or grow their CCP trade
Still, is it just a coincidence that Xi accelerated his plans shortly after Brexit? Between that and Trump, we are effectively isolated and fundamentally vulnerable to this sort of power play.
most likely, I doubt the EU or UK even register on the CCP's plans for the Chinese century
"delusions of grandeur"
My cynical self thinks that this is not a genuine offer but one for the headlines in a time where good news are sorely needed (Leicester lockdown, general covid-19 omnishambles)
I hope my cynical self is wrong