Letters | Post-Brexit UK will need friends: so why pick fights with China and the US?
- Leading candidates for British prime minister have managed to offend the leaders of the two largest economies in the world
Earlier this month, former UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who is competing with Hunt to be prime minister, said he backed the Hong Kong protesters against the now dead extradition bill “every inch of the way”.
For a while during World War II, Britain stood alone against Germany, but the US later came to Britain’s aid. Once again, Britain is standing alone.
Even as Hunt confronts China over Hong Kong, it is open to question whether Trump will back the UK after Hunt publicly criticised the US president.
After Brexit, Britain will have more urgent economic need for strong ties with the US and China. Is the heated anti-China rhetoric from Hunt and Johnson just part of their competition to win over Conservative voters who will choose the next prime minister later this month? Perhaps the new prime minister, whoever he is, will mend ties with China.
Toh Han Shih, Happy Valley