You don't love us any more

[Gob]

US attacks UK’s ‘constant accommodation’ with China
Geoff Dyer in Washington and George Parker in London


The Obama administration accused the UK of a “constant accommodation” of China after Britain decided to join a new China-led financial institution that could rival the World Bank. The rare rebuke of one of the US’s closest allies came as Britain prepared to announce that it will become a founding member of the $50bn Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, making it the first country in the G7 group of leading economies to join an institution launched by China last October.


Thursday’s reprimand was a rare breach in the “special relationship” that has been a backbone of western policy for decades. It also underlined US concerns over China’s efforts to establish a new generation of international development banks that could challenge Washington-based global institutions. The US has been lobbying other allies not to join the AIIB. Relations between Washington and David Cameron’s government have become strained, with senior US officials criticising Britain over falling defence spending, which could soon go below the Nato target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product.

A senior US administration official told the Financial Times that the British decision was taken after “virtually no consultation with the US” and at a time when the G7 had been discussing how to approach the new bank. “We are wary about a trend toward constant accommodation of China, which is not the best way to engage a rising power,” the US official said. British officials were publicly restrained in criticising China over its handling of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests while Mr Cameron has made it clear he has no further plans to meet the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader — after a 2012 meeting that prompted a furious response from Beijing.

[rubato]

Are they richer than we are? Younger than we are? Prettier than we are? Is their hegemony bigger?


So why are you sucking up to them like you used to suck up to us?


Signed,
Jilted

[dgs49]

As I understand it, this bank is being created to finance infrastructure projects in Asia. Britain has many companies that could benefit from these projects, and their participation in the bank will give them an advantageous position in going after these projects. Why shouldn't they do it?

I'm not sure I understand what the US' objection is.

[MajGenl.Meade]

dgs, I'm surprised that you of all people are not trumpeting the thin end of the wedge Yellow Peril warning all over the place. The bank is being created to assist the PRC takeover of the known universe - financing infrastructure projects in Asia (and Africa) are merely tools in the imperialist ChiCom war-chest

[Lord Jim]

You don't love us any more

Well, not if you're going to act like the French we're not...

[rubato]

As I understand it, this bank is being created to finance infrastructure projects in Asia. Britain has many companies that could benefit from these projects, and their participation in the bank will give them an advantageous position in going after these projects. Why shouldn't they do it?

I'm not sure I understand what the US' objection is.

Well, no. This bank is being created to both enable and legitimize the direct manipulation of global businesses by the totalitarian dictatorship of the Peoples Republic of China. After George Bush the lesser ushered them into the WTO there has been no stopping them.


yrs,
rubato