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Guardian

Guardian

Keir Starmer played the China card in Rio – and sent a message to a hawkish Donald Trump | Simon Tisdall

Guardian
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Keir Starmer said he sought “consistent, durable, respectful, predictable’s ties’ with Xi Jinping .

But was there just a touch of Tricky Dicky about Starmer 's meeting with Xi at G20 summit? Nixon is famous for his groundbreaking 1972 visit to Beijing , which opened the way to normalised relations between the US and Red China .

Trump is a vociferous foe of China , which he believes threatens American global hegemony.

Xi has long dreamed of China supplanting the US as the 21st century ’s foremost superpower.

Beset by economic problems and a “wolf warrior diplomacy” backlash, he has launched a foreign charm offensive.

But if America first ’ means putting everyone else last, if “ America puts everyone else first , then those allies may ultimately swallow their misgivings and look elsewhere for reliable friends.