The Eurosceptic vision of a globalised Britain, distanced from Europe, has deteriorated amid Trump’s trade wars, revealing differing views on China within the transatlantic alliance. While there is mutual concern over China’s role as a commercial rival and security threat, Washington’s hawks perceive an existential challenge, contrasting with more engagement-oriented Europeans. Britain’s stance has fluctuated, with David Cameron in 2015 heralding a “golden era” of trade with China, while Boris Johnson, in 2020, yielded to US pressures and banned Huawei from the UK’s 5G infrastructure.
