Opportunism: Short term vs. Very Short term

It was reported today that British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has criticised China in fairly strong language about the situation in Hong-Kong. The Chinese are really angry, and their ambassador told Hunt to keep out of Chinese domestic affairs: “Hands off Hong Kong and show respect. This colonial mindset is still haunting the minds of some officials or politicians”.

Now, I am all for strong protests about Chinese conduct. But why has Hunt chosen to come out so forcefully, when British track-record with regard to Chinese human-rights violations is normally most pragmatic? Britain (like most other countries) put their trade relations with China before the human rights of the Chinese oppressed.

Hunt is one of the two contenders (the other being Boris Johnson) to become Theresa May’s successor, as Tory prime-minister. Voting takes place in two days. My guess would be that Hunt’s opportunism puts his immediate interest before the country’s interest – which is also opportunistic – to let China do what it likes, as long as it signs a trade agreement with post-Brexit Britain.