Preliminary

British trade ministers in Beijing. Everything in your mouth is good.Sanctions announced at London headquarters. direct to black.¡£

Still signing yesterday Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Cooperation, get it today Trumped-up chargesSanctioning Chinese enterprises, Britain's trick of "shaking hands with the front foot and stabbing the back foot" really loses even the most basic face.

On the one hand to cooperate and knock the knife, what does the British government want?

One thing to the face, another behind the back

Speaking of which, the beginning of this farce is quite warm. On September 10th, the new British Secretary of State for Trade and Commerce by Peter Kyle.I flew to Beijing with a sincere face, and all I said was Improving relations with China.Beautiful words.

The minister was so excited in the interview that he was like a child who just got his favorite toy: " China deserves to cooperate.We want to improve our relations with China.¡±How nice it is to say that even China and Britain have signed two official documents.

One is the "Sino-British Joint Working Group Memorandum on the WTO", the other is the "Sino-British Memorandum on Trade Relief Cooperation". Expanding imports from BritainAlso encouraged Chinese companies to invest in the UK¡£

Kyle was extremely happy at that time, and said that the British Prime Minister was planning to visit China. Who would have thought that this tender and affectionate cooperation picture would become a show 48 hours later The absurd drama.¡£On September 12, a sudden sanctions announcement was issued in London.

Three Chinese companiesIt was directly drawn to the blacklist on the grounds that it was "likely" to provide critical equipment to Russia.Note this "maybe" two words, no evidence, no investigation, is "maybe". freeze assets, restrict trade, a process goes faster than sending a press release.

This operation is simply amazing Don't laugh or cry¡£One day we shook hands in Beijing and the next in London Knives in the back.Even Sichuan Opera is ashamed of this face-changing speed.More absurdly, the British are lazy even for decent reasons.

What is the ¡°possible¡± supply of equipment? what is the ¡°hypothesis¡± is a problem? according to this logic, is it one day that the UK ¡°may¡± think that whoever does not comply with the eyes, can be easily sanctioned? Playing hooligans¡£

Left hand painting, right hand painting.

Why did Britain play this "both want and want" trick? Difficult to right.¡£From a practical point of view, cooperation with China is the economic recovery of Britain Necessary Options¡£

After the Brexit, the British economy has been on the low, high inflation, weak growth, and the government urgently needs to find new growth points. The world's second largest economy, like a huge gold mine for Britain.

British Trade Minister Douglas Alexander publicly regretted that the UK has not had any cooperation with China in the past few years, not even ministerial meetings. Stupid on the side.¡£

How straightforward this is, the translation is: We are missing too many opportunities to make money. But on the other hand, Britain dare not completely ignore American brotherThe eye color.As an important ally of the United States in Europe, Britain has always been the only US leader in its policy towards China.

Now, what kind of "strategic competition with China" does the United States engage in, asking its allies to put pressure on China together. How dare Britain disobey? What's worse is that there are still a group of people in Britain Conservative forcesFanning the flames there.

These people are old-fashioned and always worried that China's strength will affect Britain's international position, and hold on to China-British cooperation. cautious attitude¡£In order to keep votes, Starmer's government has to consider the opinions of these people. So this appeared The Spiritual DivisionWonderful operation.

On the one hand, to send ministers to China to seek cooperation, to take contracts, to order, to hate to treat China as a lifeblood; on the other hand, to make statements on sanctions issues, to prove to the United States and domestic conservatives. I am still obedient¡£

This is the typical "left-hand painting circle, right-hand painting" - it looks busy, in fact it is Self-contradiction¡£The problem is that this kind of speculative cleverness does not work in international relations at all.

Cooperation requires sincerity, sanctions reflect confrontation, and both are true. Fire is not allowed.¡£The British thought they could find a balance between the two, in fact. Both are bad.¡£

This time is different.

Faced with Britain's "face-changing technique", China's reaction can be called Textbook level¡£Within 24 hours, the Chinese Embassy in the UK issued a scathing statement. Note this time: Less than 24 hours¡£

The speed itself illustrates the problem ¨C China has been prepared for the response for a long time. Hit the nail on the head"The relevant sanctions imposed by the British side are unilateral acts without basis in international law."What do you mean by "unilateralism"?

Speaking straight, that is. It doesn't matter to youInternational law is not yours."Damaging the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises" is even more weighty. The Chinese side has made it clear that our enterprises are innocent and your accusations are untenable.

The most important thing is that word. Urge the UK to correct its mistakes.¡£This is not a suggestion, it is not a protest, it is an ultimatum-it must be changed, and it is not negotiable. More importantly, China has also shown Legal weapons¡£

The Anti-Foreign Sanctions Act, which came into force in 2022, was prepared in response to such unreasonable sanctions. Reciprocal oppositionThe power of.Freeze assets, restrict business, block supply chains, and a whole set of tools can be enabled at any time.

This is not empty speech, but Real policy options.¡£In the past, Western sanctions were usually one-way: I sanctioned, you endured, you complained.Now China is changing the rules of the game: you sanctioned, I countered; you speculated, I rejected; you tried, I immediately Illuminated¡£

This change is not just a matter of attitude, but an expression of strength and strategic confidence. Britain probably did not expect that China would react this way. Fast and resolute.¡£With 24 hours of response time, the signal is very clear: we are no longer passive waiting, but Take the initiative¡£

Behind this change is the improvement of China's comprehensive strength and the improvement of diplomatic philosophy Fundamental transformation¡£In the past we talked about "Light and light", and now we want to "struggle for it."Not we have become good fighters, but we No more noise.¡£

There is reason, there are sections, but there is no regression - this is the distinctive characteristic of Chinese diplomacy in the new era.

The game rules will change.

This less than 24-hour confrontation is far more significant than a diplomatic protest.It marks that international relations are entering a crisis. A completely new phase.¡£In the past few decades, international sanctions have largely been imposed by Western countries Patented¡£

They can sanction whoever they want, and they can find whatever reason they want. Anyway, they have the right to speak. Sanctioned countries usually can only protest a few words, and then bear it silently, looking for diplomatic channels to ease it at most.

This one-way, unfair sanctions model is essentially a Hegemonic behavior¡£But now, this gameplay is failing. China's rapid counterattack has proved a truth to the international community: sanctions can be and double.¡£

You have sanctions laws, I have anti-sanctions laws; you have economic weapons, and I have reciprocal means. A profound meaning.¡£It tells all countries that sanctions are no longer a zero-cost political tool.

If you want to use the big stick of sanctions, you have to be prepared to bear The corresponding cost¡£From a more macro perspective, this also reflects the fundamental change of the international balance of power. The international system established after World War II was mainly dominated by the West.

At that time, the West had absolute advantages in economy, technology, and military affairs, and they had the final say in formulating and implementing rules. But with the rise of emerging economies, especially the rapid development of China, this Single patternIs being broken.

Multipolarization is not an abstract concept, but The real reality.¡£Under this new pattern, anyone who wants to continue playing "I set the rules and you must abide by" the country of the game will face. The shock of reality¡£

Britain is a typical example this time. They think that they can still gain economic benefits from China while exerting political pressure on China as in the past. It turns out that this set Both betsThe tactic is not working.

The future of international relations will be based on The Equal Dialogueand mutual respect.Not because everyone has suddenly become civilized, but because the balance of power has changed, which makes it impossible for either party to unilaterally Imposing the will.¡£

This is actually good for building a fairer and more reasonable international order. Of course, the process will not go smoothly and there will be more friction and conflict. Unilateralism has no way outDialogue is the right path.

conclusion

Less than 24 hours, there are two types. Collision of gameplayIn the past, it was "I sanction, you endure", and now it has become "You dare to move, I am against."Honestly, who wants to keep playing that Need another trick.I am afraid of the consequences.

Times have changed, The rules have to change¡£In front of Britain. One in the back.Do you think China should continue to give it a chance, or directly struggle hard?