#Britainisanolddecliningempire, #says #officialChinesenewspaper #PeoplesDaily takes #swipeatUKs #eccentricacts as #ChinesepremiervisitsLondon Share inShare0 Email Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent theguardian, Wednesday 18 June 2014 09.47 BST Jump to comments (1434) Chinese Premier #LiKeqiang applauds George Osborne View larger picture Chinese Premier Li Keqiang applauds as British Chancellor George Osborne prepares to address the delegates of the UK-China Financial Forum Photograph: Sang Tan/AP Britain is an old, declining empire which resorts to eccentric acts to hide its embarrassment over its declining power, an official Chinese newspaper has claimed on the second day of a visit by the countrys premier, Li Keqiang, to London. As China was given the chance to take a decisive stake in the next stage of Britains energy and transport infrastructure on the first day of the premiers visit, the Global Times said a rising country such as China should seek to understand a declining power. The paper, which is owned by the official Communist party Peoples Daily, took a swipe at Britain after reports last week that Beijing had threatened to call off Lis visit if he were not allowed to meet the Queen. The premier and his wife began their visit on Tuesday with an audience with the Queen at Windsor Castle. The Global Times wrote of the reports of a Chinese threat to cancel Lis visit: Diplomats might break out into laughter at such rhetoric. This hype only serves to reflect the narrow-mindedness of the British media and even the whole of its society. The once-powerful British empire must now resort to such trickery to manifest its pride. The official newspaper added: Perhaps Chinese people should forgive Britains confusing sentiment. A rising country should understand the embarrassment of an old declining empire and at times the eccentric acts it takes to hide such embarrassment. Diplomacy has to be based on realistic recognition of the two countries power. No matter for China or the UK, it will be tiring if they try to distort this reality. Global Times Ragout Global Times - Ragout Photograph: Global Times The official spokesman for the prime minister, David Cameron, sought to shrug off the significance of the article, telling a Westminster media briefing: I read in the Times of London Premier Lis article when he said this was a great nation. That is the prime minister of Chinas view. The barbed comments echo an editorial in the paper during Camerons visit to China last December. At the time, it described Britain as just an old European country apt for travel and study. The criticism follows agreements between Britain and China on the first day of Lis visit that will allow Chinese companies to own and operate a nuclear power station and to help build high-speed rail lines. The agreements are among trade deals worth £14bn agreed with Beijing. They have prompted Cameron to declare that Britain is playing a part in the rise of China – something he called a defining event of the 21st century. The two most controversial aspects of the deals will allow Chinese firms to own and operate a Chinese-designed nuclear power station and to build and operate rail lines in Britain. The Chinese have a mixed safety record on high-speed rail. On Tuesday, Cameron said: Ours is truly a partnership for growth, reform and innovation. Our partnership goes well beyond the economic field. The UK recognises that the rise of China is one of the defining events of our century. We welcome the fact that Chinas economic growth is lifting millions out of poverty. As premier Li noted, as China grows in economic power that brings greater responsibilities on the world stage. The government moved to stem criticism of cooperation in the highly sensitive area of civil nuclear power by saying it was part of an overall agreement to tackle climate change. China and Britain also signed a joint statement on climate change. theguardian/world/2014/jun/18/britain-old-declining-empire-official-chinese-newspaper?guni=Article:promo%20**Most%20viewed:microapp%20zeitgeist:Most%20Viewed%20Old%20Promo:Position1
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 20:02:18 +0000
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