Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, is pushing his country to a “radical, revisionist and militarist” foreign policy, according to Dr Andreas Fulda, a senior fellow at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute. Dr Fulda spoke to Express.co.uk about why the authoritarian state has taken such an “alienating” approach to the international community. China has sparked fury among many countries, including the UK, US, India and Australia, for their handling of trade wars, the coronavirus crisis and the Hong Kong secession to name a few.
Dr Fulda said: “I think what is quite striking is Xi Jingping’s radical, revisionist and frankly militarist foreign policy is really alienating countries across the world.
“For example, the Australian Government very rightfully calling for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
“That led to these economic sanctions from the Chinese side. It is completely unacceptable.
“Now think of Canada where the Government apprehended Meng Wanzhou, the CFO for Huawei, at the request of the United States.”
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He continued: “Ever since, she’s been going through the courts and there has been a case over whether she can be extradited to the United States.
“In retaliation, the Chinese Communist Party basically kidnapped two Canadian citizens who, in my view, are completely innocent.
“Just recently, a Chinese Government spokesperson basically admitted that this is hostage diplomacy and suggested that if Ms Meng is unconditionally released then they could do the same with the two Canadians as well.
“So we have the Chinese Communist Party having a major conflict with both Australia and Canada. And, of course, in Europe we see a very similar situation.”
Dr Fulda told Express.co.uk: “And if you to that the border skirmishes with India, we see that Xi Jinping is alienating countries left, right and centre.
“That cannot be in the enlightened interest of the Chinese people or the Chinese nation.
“I don’t think in the long run this can benefit the Chinese people in any way possible.”
China’s anger towards the UK, in particular, has grown after the British Government confirmed that up to three million British Nationals in Hong Kong will be allowed to settle in the country as part of a bespoke immigration system.
This action was taken after China imposed a new national security law on Hong Kong that threatened the freedoms promised under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.