China bluff exposed: Beijing would be 'foolish' to enrage UK with cyber attack

By GERRARD KAONGA

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Director of the China Centre at Oxford University, Professor Rana Mitter, argued China would lose many benefits if it launched a cyber attack on the UK. While speaking on LBC, Professor Mitter argued that not enough emphasis has been made on how much China benefits from working closely with the UK. He added that threats from China would quickly subside despite its international aggression, as Beijing realises it would be foolish to risk losing these benefits by attempting to intimidate the UK.

Professor Mitter said: "China doesn't have to be a threat if we don't want it to be.

"What I am worried about is the conversation is becoming very fearful.

"It is all about what China might do to the UK.

"I would be very surprised if the Chinese would be foolish enough to launch a massive cyber-attack on the UK immediately after a Huawei decision.

China news: China bluff exposed: Beijing would be 'foolish' to enrage UK with cyber attack 

China News: Director of the China Centre at Oxford University, Professor Rana Mitter, argued China would lose many benefits if it launched a cyber attack on the UK. (Image: GETTY)

"That way, no free country would ever do a deal with China again."

Professor Mitter claimed there are multiple reasons China would lose out if it made the UK its enemy.

He listed the many benefits China has gained through operating closely with the UK.

He continued: "I think we need to talk more about all the things Britain has to offer China.

China news: Professor Mitter claimed there are multiple reasons China would lose out if it made the UK its enemy. (Image: GETTY)

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"We offer financial services, higher education, superb technology etc, we need to start talking up what the UK can do for China.

"We hear a lot about why Britain needs China but not nearly enough about how China needs an awful lot from Britain, we should talk more about that."

LBC host Majid Nawaz countered by claiming Tory MP and chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, had said China poses more of a threat than Soviet Russia did during the cold war.

Professor Mitter acknowledged the assessment but claimed the UK and China have a very different relationship than the UK did with Soviet Russia.