What do Chinese see in ‘Auntie’ Theresa May that Britons don’t?

Refusing to endorse the Belt and Road Initiative and securing hefty trade deals gives the British prime minister a much-needed political victory

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British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang did not see eye to eye on the Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:45pm, 2 Feb 2018Updated: 10:41pm, 2 Feb 2018

Theresa May’s first visit to China as prime minister this week will no doubt have been a great experience for her – but probably for the wrong reason.

Cosseted in the splendid meeting rooms, and being ushered in and out of VIP meetings, she will at least for once have been spared the constant questions of the press which she has to deal with back in Britain.

While press conferences and some of the public events meant she still had to deal with demands about what is happening with her leadership, and what she thinks about Brexit, this has lacked the relentless intensity it usually has back in London.

For China and Britain, some special relationships are more special than others

Once she arrives in 10 Downing Street she might sigh wistfully and look back at her three days in the People’s Republic and feel it was the lull in a storm – a moment of respite before the wind and rain started howling again.

President Xi Jinping and Theresa May signed more than US$12 billion in trade deals. Photo: AP

Indeed, state media lauded the British leader for not bringing up human rights regarding Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement during her trip – something that The Guardian pounced on immediately, saying on Friday she “was commended for sidestepping” the issue.

At the very least, May’s visit to China went without mishap. She had a formidable task to start off with, so even achieving this was good.