Putting economics first

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and China's President Xi Jinping (L) view the Jules Rimet trophy during a visit to the City Football Academy in Manchester, Britain October 23, 2015. REUTERS/Joe Giddens/pool

Despite Britain’s role as the closest US ally, its leaders have surprised the world by surging forward in relations with a rising China.

FOR centuries, relations between Britain and China have been undulating, rising rather more than declining.