The Chinese president’s plane touched down in Pyongyang this morning. First state visit by a Chinese leader in 14 years. The timing is everything.
Kim Jong-un, isolated and desperate. His economy in ruins. His nuclear programme at a standstill. Xi Jinping, seeking a win. Trade war with Washington. Domestic slowdown. He needs a card to play.
So what does Beijing want? Leverage. Plain and simple. A friendly North Korea is a strategic buffer. A nuclear-armed one is a bargaining chip. The ‘friendship’ is transactional.
Whitehall sources tell me the Foreign Office is nervous. Eyes are on the summit. Will Xi push for denuclearisation? Unlikely. He’ll offer aid, trade, a lifeline. In return, loyalty. A vote at the UN. A thorn in America’s side.
Britain has to watch closely. The UK’s role in the Korean Peninsula is limited. We are a middle power. But we have influence in the UN Security Council. We have a voice. The question is: will we use it?
There are whispers of a cabinet split. The Prime Minister wants a tough line. But the business lobby is pressing for engagement. Trade with China is worth billions. Can we afford to alienate Xi?
Backbench Tories are restless. They see China as a threat. They want sanctions. Labour is quieter. They are waiting. Watching the polls.
The facts are stark. North Korea’s missile tests continue. The sanctions regime is fraying. China is stepping into the void. If we don’t act, we lose influence.
This is not just about North Korea. It is about the balance of power in Asia. It is about the future of the global order. Britain needs a strategy. Not a reaction.
The next 48 hours will be crucial. Xi and Kim will meet behind closed doors. No press. No transparency. We must rely on leaks. On diplomatic whispers.
I am told the British ambassador in Beijing is working overtime. He is trying to read the tea leaves. So far, the signs are mixed.
One thing is certain: this alliance is not built on trust. It is built on need. And need can change quickly.
Britain’s job is to prepare for every outcome. Hardline, softline, or something in between. The game is afoot. And we cannot afford to be spectators.
