Coronavirus has raised questions about international relations with China but it is vital this question is answered corrected as the obvious response – a new Cold War – would be “both economically costly and politically dangerous” says Dr Steve Davies, Head of Education at the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Writing for the 1828 website, Steve argues that trading with China and hoping market liberalisation and improvements in human rights would follow has clearly failed but military confrontation is not the only other option.

Instead ‘peoples’ diplomacy’ – differentiating between the Chinese government and the Chinese people and ramping up a “program of engagement between private individuals, organisations and firms in free societies with their counterparts in China” – is “less risky than overt military confrontation and, in the longer run, more likely to succeed.”

Read the full piece here.

Watch our recent video featuring Dr Steve Davies where we asked “Should China pay the price?”