logo
Democracies around world must form new alliance to counter China, says Sunak

Democracies around world must form new alliance to counter China, says Sunak

In his first major intervention on global affairs since leaving 10 Downing Street, he said existing alliances such as Nato and traditional free-trade arrangements were not sufficient to respond to Beijing.
He suggested a grouping of democratic market economies could work together to reduce reliance on China for manufacturing and technology and have the combined industrial might to rival the Asian superpower's capacity to build military equipment.
'In an era of full-spectrum competition, we can't trade with rivals the same way we do with friends,' he said.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, he said democracies should band together or risk letting 'an authoritarian axis shape a new world order where might makes right, where technology bolsters authoritarianism and curtails individual liberty, and where trade is a weapon of coercion'.
The former prime minister said: 'The next decade will be one of the most dangerous yet most transformational periods the world has ever seen. Democratic market states must seize this moment and shape it.
'If they don't, it will be the axis of authoritarian states — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — that takes advantage of this opportunity.'
He said 'old-fashioned great power competition' is returning in the form of China presenting the US with a 'credible economic, technological and military rival for the first time in 40 years'.
In a message to Donald Trump, he said: 'The US must realise that no country on its own can face down the axis of authoritarian states.
'But together, democratic market economies can outcompete any rival coalition and deliver peace and prosperity for their people.'
He said a broader alliance than Nato was needed, spanning the Indo-Pacific as well as the the Euro-Atlantic.
Mr Sunak said Jiangnan in China has more capacity than 'every US shipyard put together', but a combined allied production strategy with South Korea and Japan would allow competition with China on building up naval fleets.
The economic strength of a democratic alliance could also persuade 'key global swing states' to back the US and its allies rather than China and Russia.
Greater trade among allies would also reduce the 'economic pain' from breaking away from China in strategically important areas.
Countries that fail to restrict technology transfer to China or leave themselves dependent on Chinese technology 'should be excluded from reciprocal free trade'.
'If China overtakes us in artificial intelligence, it will gain not only economic but strategic primacy, given its potential military applications,' he warned.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Donald Trump's caddy drops golf ball moments before president takes a shot
Donald Trump's caddy drops golf ball moments before president takes a shot

Metro

time21 minutes ago

  • Metro

Donald Trump's caddy drops golf ball moments before president takes a shot

Donald Trump may be failing to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, or stop the speculation about the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, or reduce prices of food in the US – this list could go on – but his ability to bend reality is in top form. His Air Force One touched down at Prestwick Airport in Scotland on Friday and the US president wasted no time hitting the golf course – or having his caddy hit it for him, actually. Footage circulating online shows the Republican allegedly cheating at golf with some help from staff. Two caddies – people who assists golfers by carrying their bags and with some strategic advice – are seen walking next to Trump who is driving in a cart. Both walk ahead and one is spotted discreetly dropping the golf ball to the ground. Trump then gets out of the vehicle and approaches it, appearing to pretend that it is the shot he made. 'Trump working hard to bring down grocery prices,' the caption of the video reads, referencing his campaign promises to tackle inflation and costs in the US. Of course, a long line of accusations that the president cheats follow in the comments on X. Political commentator, Richard Angwin, wrote under: 'His shameless golf cheating, having his caddie drop a ball for a better lie outside the bunker, exposes the same fraudulent tactics he employs in politics, proving once again he's a con artist through and through.' Another comment read: ' Caddy did that so smoothly. I can only imagine how many times he has done it.' Soon enough, the phrase 'commander in cheat' was trending on X amid the allegations. The president has boasted of winning dozens of golf championships – all on courses he owns – including five this year alone. Rick Reilly, a former Sports Illustrated journalist who has played with him and has interviewed dozens of people familiar with his game, claimed this is a lie 'that is so over-the-top Crazytown it loses all credibility among golfers the second it is out of his mouth.' More Trending In his book 'Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump', he said that Trump has likely won none of the club championships he claims to have. Trump's four-day trip to the UK is not an official visit. He is due to return for a meeting with state heads in September. The main purpose appears to be to play golf at his two courses – Trump International at Menie in Aberdeenshire and Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man shouting 'death to Trump' tackled by passengers on EasyJet flight to Glasgow MORE: Prince Andrew among 100 people who could be dragged into Epstein scandal MORE: New arrest in cold case of mum killed 30 years ago walking home from shops

Nato jets scrambled after Putin launches massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine
Nato jets scrambled after Putin launches massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine

Scottish Sun

time21 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Nato jets scrambled after Putin launches massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine

Five people have been injured after an apartment building was bombed in Kyiv NATO member Poland has scrambled fighter jets after Russia's latest blitz on Ukraine. The jets took to the skies as Vladimir Putin sent the latest wave of kamikaze drones and rockets at Kyiv. 1 Poland scrambled jets after Putin launched his latest onslaught Credit: Getty Eight people, including a two-year-old girl, were injured in the strikes with shrapnel wounds after one bomb hit an apartment building. Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that all of the people were residents of a multi-storey apartment building in the city's Darnytskyi district on the left bank of the Dnipro River. The Polish Ministry of Defence said the jets took off as a precautionary measure during the strikes. They said: "Polish and allied aircraft on standby were scrambled and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on the highest level of combat readiness." Four of those injured in the attack, which took place soon after midnight on Monday, have been hospitalised, with one person in serious condition, the head of Kyiv's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

Nato jets scrambled after Putin launches massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine
Nato jets scrambled after Putin launches massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine

The Sun

time22 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Nato jets scrambled after Putin launches massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine

NATO member Poland has scrambled fighter jets after Russia's latest blitz on Ukraine. The jets took to the skies as Vladimir Putin sent the latest wave of kamikaze drones and rockets at Kyiv. 1 Five people, including a two-year-old girl, were injured in the strikes with shrapnel wounds after one bomb hit an apartment building. The Polish Ministry of Defence said the jets took off as a precautionary measure during the strikes. They said: "Polish and allied aircraft on standby were scrambled and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on the highest level of combat readiness." More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store