Will The Uk-China Relationship, Described As 'truly A Global Partnership', Jeopardise The Anglo-American One?

[sandyRoe]

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-10-20/queen-uk-china-relationship-is-truly-a-global-partnership/

[jourdain2]

I'm uneasy about it. The answer is 'Yes, it could'. China, very much, has its own agenda. I don't trust the 'Aren't we all friends and trading partners together!' angle. USA is even more suspicious from what I can glean.

[Canary42]

Yes, the good old Anglo-American one - companies like Apple and Amazon paying mugger-all UK tax.

[Old_Geezer]

Good grief ! It's a (daft) trading agreement not a "relationship". Surely anyone and everyone can spot diplomatic statements when they hear them ? Whilst the American government would prefer no one to have influence besides themselves, they aren't daft. They will be well aware it doesn't change the benefits each get from claiming there's an Anglo-American "special" relationship.

[sandyRoe]

Is it not slightly shaming to have to toady up to great powers when the UK once bestrode the world like a colossus?

[Khandro]

//the UK once bestrode the world like a colossus?//

Yes, but what we did by force, the Chinese are doing by stealth, cunning and limitless chegue book. Huge areas of the most mineral rich and desirable areas of the globe are being purchased quite legally and every deal made is always to their advantage.
Softly, softly they catchee monkey.

[Old_Geezer]

Some may have been by force as different European empires strove to increase influence, but much was also by commercial outmanoeuvring, which is the more recent way to become an important player.

Of course it help to have a compliant population willing to accept a lower standard of living than the populations other large players, allowing the nation to build up great wealth to buy out elsewhere.

Apart from following that lead (which is unacceptable) the only other way to compete is to raise barriers to stop one's national economy from being bought up. Dropping barriers at the demand of the merchants and their friends is not a wise long term policy. Barriers should be as open as is compatible with remaining in control of one's own economy, and no more.