British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intends to use the coronation of Charles III to improve relations with China by inviting a senior member of the Chinese Politburo. According to RBC, The Times writes about this, citing sources.
Most likely, Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be able to attend the coronation and will instead send Wang Yi, head of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. London hopes that the coronation, which will be attended by many high-ranking officials from around the world, will create negotiations with China, which will not attract criticism from the Conservative (Tory) MPs.
Wang Yi had already met British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly during the Munich Security Conference in February. The UK authorities see the coronation as an opportunity to have a more meaningful conversation.
According to The Times, Sunak takes a less confrontational approach to China than his predecessor Liz Truss. She intended to designate the PRC as a threat in the national security strategy. The document is expected to be updated next week, sources told the publication that it will not name China as a threat, as the British prime minister seeks a more “refined” position, which is criticized.
The publication cites the opinion of one of the key “hawks” on China policy in the Kingdom’s Conservative Party – the former leader of the political force, Ian Duncan Smith. He expressed concern that inviting a high-ranking official from China was an act of “groveling.”
However, Hugo Wickers, an expert on the history of the royal family, called the initiative “very reasonable” and recalled that Crown Prince Akihito of Japan was present at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, the parties then tried to restore relations after World War II.
He also noted that Buckingham Palace would not mind relying on the Prime Minister’s office for the persons invited to the coronation, despite the fact that Charles III had previously expressed dissatisfaction with China.
Source: Rosbalt
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