The British prime minister’s enthusiastic self-abasement was embarrassing.

やってはならない対中外交
中国にへつらう英国政府、東シナ海での緊張も人権問題も無視

via mozu

2013.12.09（月） Financial Times

David Cameron could scarcely have crouched any lower during this week’s visit to China. For his compatriots, the British prime minister’s enthusiastic self-abasement was, well, embarrassing. It did not change anything. Before Mr Cameron had boarded his flight home China’s state-controlled media was characterising Britain as an insignificant relic, of passing interest to tourists and students.
In so far as it might have served a broader purpose, the trip instead offered an excruciating example of the muddle of high-mindedness, mercantilism and subservience that often describes European responses to China’s rise. A continent mired in economic troubles is desperate to sell more to the world’s second-largest economy. But how to reconcile this with upholding a broader set of European values and interests?





Britain, though a permanent member of the UN Security Council, apparently has nothing to say on an issue that has significantly increased the risk of conflict in the region. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article.

After some grumbling, the government agreed to sign off on a joint EU statement criticising Beijing’s unilateral action, but Mr Cameron was determined the issue should not dilute the sales pitch of the 100-odd business leaders who arrived with him in Beijing.
The prime minister seemed equally reluctant to engage his hosts on human rights, and acquiesced when one of the journalists in his party was barred from attending a press event with Li Keqiang, the Chinese premier





Britain is not alone among European nations in leaving burdensome matters about war and peace to the Americans while pursuing mercantilist approaches to China. When Mr Li visited Angela Merkel in Berlin this year the German chancellor sought to ingratiate herself by attacking EU plans to impose duties on imports of Chinese solar panels. German officials still look sheepish when reminded of the episode. The French are also apt to put business before geopolitics when they visit Beijing.




What marked out Mr Cameron’s trip was the egregious kowtowing.




Beijing, as I heard one senior European official remark this week, is not in the habit of rewarding weakness.





Europe should have something to say about this choice. It remains one of the world’s richest, most powerful regions. It also has plenty of painful experience of what can happen when a rising power disturbs the status quo.

、口先では道義を説き（タテマエ）、やることは道義を無視した　金もうけ（ホンネ）とか？