The end of the British Empire

China’s might

But it’s hard to avoid a sense of the sun setting on the remains of the British empire.

Earlier this month the U.K. announced a deal to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, an Indian Ocean archipelago with a U.K. and U.S. military base, to Commonwealth member Mauritius. While the Diego Garcia base will remain under U.S./U.K. jurisdiction for at least 99 years, the decision prompted Tory fury over China’s trade ties with Mauritius and military muscle.

It’s not just Mauritius. Last year the Solomon Islands, another Commonwealth member, signed a police cooperation deal with China. “The Solomon Islands very obviously flipped to China and it caused massive panic for the Australians and the Americans,” said Puri.

U.K. officials are aware of the need to keep smaller states, many in Africa, from being too reliant on China. U.K. Development Minister Anneliese Dodds pledged last week to “accelerate” reform of development banks to help vulnerable states “escape the trap of unsustainable debt.” Puri added: “That concern is really at the forefront of why the Commonwealth is a valuable network for the U.K.”

Britain should seize the summit as a chance to shore up relations with these nations — giving them alternatives to Chinese investment, said former U.K. Trade Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who attended CHOGM in 2018. She told POLITICO: “There are massive opportunities for all: for trade and prosperity, for the climate challenges we all face, for security against and autocratic regimes, including China. Vision and common cause is needed to protect our collective interest over the long term.”

Yet all the candidates for secretary-general have said firmly it is not the Commonwealth Secretariat’s job to help “contain” China. Botchwey told a recent Chatham House debate: “It would be violating sovereignty and poking its nose where it’s not needed.”

Starmer, arriving at this week’s Commonwealth summit with several of his opposite numbers already lured away by Xi and Putin, will have got the message.

Esther Webber contributed reporting.