Brexit and the UK’s China Challenge

The debate over the Hinkley Point reactor in July 2016 highlights broader questions over the future of the UK−China relationship.

With all the other challenges facing the UK, a coherent China strategy may be too much to hope for. And the UK's approach to China will depend on how relations with the EU pan out. So China policy looks like it will be yet another area of uncertainty for Britain as it extracts itself from the EU.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Hinkley Point gets final investment approval from France's EDF / Hinkley Point: New hitch for UK nuclear plant deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/hinkley-point-gets-final-investment-approval-from-frances-edf-hinkley-point-new-hitch-for-uk-nuclear-plant-deal/

The Guardian, 01.08.16: China warns UK over 'suspicious approach' to Hinkley Point deal https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/01/china-warns-uk-over-suspicious-approach-to-hinkley-point-deal

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

EurActiv, 09.08.16: China to UK: ‘Golden’ ties at crucial juncture over nuclear delay http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/china-to-uk-golden-ties-at-crucial-juncture-over-nuclear-delay/

Politico, 10.08.16: Peter Mandelson: UK has no choice but to preserve China relationship http://www.politico.eu/article/peter-mandelson-uk-has-no-choice-but-to-preserve-china-relationship/

Deutsche Welle, 09.08.16: China warns UK ties at 'crucial juncture' over Hinkley Point nuclear plant http://dw.com/p/1JeyO

Politico, 10.08.16: Hinkley: 7 things to know about Theresa May’s first big test http://www.politico.eu/article/hinkley-7-things-to-know-about-theresa-mays-first-big-test/

The Guardian, 11.08.16: May urged to pull plug immediately on Hinkley C over spying allegations https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/11/may-urged-to-pull-plug-immediately-on-hinkley-c-over-spying-allegations

The Conversation, 11.01.18: The forecast for British-Chinese relations in 2018: a storm on the horizon https://theconversation.com/the-forecast-for-british-chinese-relations-in-2018-a-storm-on-the-horizon-89424

The Diplomat: UK-China relations https://thediplomat.com/tag/china-uk-relations/

Chatham House: Project, May 2017: Brexit: Implications for EU–China Relations https://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/brexit-implications-eu-china-relations

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