The Spectator

Leading article: The salesman and the spies

There was a strange juxtaposition of events on Monday.

issue 02 July 2011

There was a strange juxtaposition of events on Monday. That was the day Britain launched the fourth wing of its armed services: a ‘cyber-command’ designed to protect our country against online attacks, most of which are carried out by China. It was also the day when David Cameron welcomed Wen Jiabao, the Premier of China, to 10 Downing Street for smiles and handshakes and multi-million-pound deals. Something very odd is happening to Sino-British relations. Britain is simultaneously acquiring a new enemy and a new ally. If we are lucky, the proceeds from trade with the ally may exceed the £650 million cost of online combat with the enemy.

China’s problem is simple. Its economic growth is slowing (this, one supposes, is what happens when your workforce enters its adolescence). It specialises in making things, not designing things. It is attempting to fix this deficiency through a massive programme of industrial espionage.

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