King's College London

Professor Kerry Brown, Director of King's Lau China Institute, says that despite the fact that Britain’s links with China go back over 430 years to the time of Elizabeth I, most British people are unaware of how deep and long lasting relations with China have been, and how consequential for the rest of the world.

That history, he says, is not just academic.

”It has made a deep mark on the daily lives of each of our countries, and gives a tangible place from which we can understand and try to relate to each other, despite all the differences and strains in relations in recent times.”

A better understanding by the British of what Brown calls their ‘China story’ would help to avoid some of the turbulence experienced over the last decade or so.

"Many point to genuine concerns over Huawei, the hardline governance of Hong Kong and the origins of Covid 19 for the souring of UK-Sino relations, but in reality, our two countries have always had a up and down relationship, swinging from friendliness to conflict quite suddenly. That has been the pattern for four centuries. It is nothing new."

What has changed, he says, are the power dynamics.

“For much of the past, economically, technologically, diplomatically, and then militarily, Britain had the upper hand. Often overwhelmingly so. But today the situation is reversed, with China now having a larger economy, and a bigger global role.”

Professor Brown says that has created disorientation for the British – urgently reminding us of the need to remember just how long and deep our relationship with China is.

Writing in his new book, The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400 Year Contest for Power, the first single volume comprehensive history of relations published since 1909, Professor Brown says that today, the Chinese understanding of Britain – forged through students attending UK universities and English being so widely spoken – is at odds with most Brits’ knowledge of China, which “doesn’t extend far beyond popular takeaway dishes, Kung Fu, and celebrations of Chinese new year”.

“It wasn’t always this way. Over the course of the first few hundred years of the relationship, Britain knew much more about China than the other way round. Britain saw China as a lucrative trade partner, whilst China for the most part, viewed Brits with the same suspicions reserved for all Europeans,” he said.

Despite this, the story of the relationship is one of huge mutual influence.

“British people drink tea, wear silk and use porcelain because of China, just as China was introduced to modern industrialization mostly through its encounter with Britain. We made each other, for good or bad, the way we are now. That needs wider recognition.

“It’s interesting to compare this with the UK’s historical relations with the US. At different times, we’ve been enemies and allies with both. We’ve been – and still are – trade-partners with both. We’ve gone from being the larger, colonial power to having greatly reduced economic and geopolitical influence over the other.

“Yet despite all that change, we still talk about a special relationship with the US. Whether it is true in practice, or as important to the US, is up for debate – but for the UK, it helps define our relationship. We feel comfortable that we understand America and Americans, and we know where we stand.

“Our relationship with China however, has become beset with suspicions and fear. We know little of their culture, their language, and most importantly, our shared history. It is inevitable, then, that our relations are often so vexed and problematic. But the one thing we can’t say is that we don’t have a history.”

“Britain clearly has a China story,” Brown says. “It just doesn’t know it. I hope this book helps correct that.”