Rishi Sunak says 'golden era' of UK-China relationship is 'over', slams 'repression'

The Prime Minister's first major foreign policy speech was described as 'thin as oatmeal' by shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy , who said the Conservatives were "flip-flopping" on rhetoric toward China

Rishi Sunak arrives at the mayor's banquet on Monday evening (

Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock

Rishi Sunak insisted the so-called 'golden era' of Britain-China relations was 'over' in his first major foreign policy speech as Prime Minister.

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Mr. Sunak said the British government needed to "evolve" its approach to Beijing as he highlighted protests in the country and the arrest of a BBC journalist last night.

But he also warned, "We can't just ignore China's importance in world affairs - for global economic stability or issues like climate change."

In a speech in Shanghai in 2015, former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne hailed a "golden era" for relations between the UK and Beijing.

He said Britain could be China's "best partner in the West".

Speaking at the mayor's banquet on Monday evening, Mr Sunak said: "Let's be clear, the so-called 'golden era' is over and so is the naïve idea that trade would lead to social reform and policies."< /p>

Protesters march down a street in Beijing on November 28 (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

In recent weeks, Tory MPs have called on Sunak to take a tougher approach to China and accused him of appearing to appease President Xi Jinping.

Tonight, Mr. Sunak added, "We must not rely on simplistic Cold War rhetoric either."

"We recognize that China poses a systemic challenge to our values ​​and interests, a challenge that worsens as it moves toward even greater authoritarianism."

His...