China
The influence game
Why do we still struggle to see Xi’s China as a threat?
Welcome to authoritarian Hong Kong
The national security law in Hong Kong has been passed for just over a month, but the scope of Beijing’s…
Wolf at the door
Britain has a critical role to play in taming China
China’s ambassador has no answer to the treatment of Uighur Muslims
When Liu Xiaoming agreed to come on the Andrew Marr show, he ought to have expected that – as the…
Wars and unjust peace
In 1984, China agreed a ‘one country, two systems’ treaty with the UK, designed to control the relationship between Hong…
Trump has been right about China for years
Back in the summer of 2015, all the cleverest people made fun of Donald Trump for obsessing about China. One…
The Spectator’s Notes
There are far more Chinese students in British universities than there are from the entire Commonwealth. Many universities have been…
No one loves a despot
Displaying the pristine neutrality that has made her such a popular figure, Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis apparently tweeted the following last…
Portrait of the week
Home Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced measures intended to stimulate the economy. Under a £111 million scheme,…
Thinking strait
After Hong Kong, is Taiwan China’s next target?
Farewell, dear Hong Kong
There was no way to know that the last trip I took to Hong Kong just a few years ago…
Empires strike back
From ancient times, empires have risen and fallen, driven by war, territorial acquisition, trade, plunder, religion, ideology, technology, culture and…
Portrait of the Week
Home Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, said he was ‘as fit as a butcher’s dog’ and did press-ups to prove…
Should we be afraid of this new swine flu?
Imagine if a vaccine for Covid-19 was approved tomorrow, and that within weeks we had all been vaccinated. Would life…
The Spectator’s Notes
Why is it wrong, some ask, for senior British businessmen, former civil servants etc to work for Huawei UK? After…
Letters
Hong Kong’s success Sir: Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson are right to compare the UK’s Covid-19 response with Hong Kong’s…
Border line
China is testing the limits of India – and the world
Seoul survivors
What’s behind South Korea’s Covid success?
The Spectator’s Notes
The government’s promised ‘pathway to citizenship’ to Hong Kong people is wonderful, but has the Foreign Office arranged a get-out…
The Spectator’s notes
This week in 1989, the Chinese authorities massacred protestors in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. I was editing this paper. It struck…
Containing freedom
How Xi is using fear of Covid to crush Hong Kong
Out of the dragon’s den
Boris Johnson’s plan to reduce Britain’s dependence on China
Portrait of the week
Home Open-air markets and car showrooms will be allowed to open from 1 June and other ‘non-essential’ shops from 15…
The UK is preparing for a major Huawei U-turn
The UK has made a strategic choice to get ‘off the trajectory of ever-increasing dependence’ on China, I revealin the…
Pompeo: Hong Kong autonomy statement made with ‘great sadness’
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a press call Wednesday afternoon that his decision to declare Hong Kong no…
