Brexit: A challenge or an opportunity for China?

Besides the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit could be the most far-reaching black swan event in the 21st century, with a tremendous impact on not only the UK, but also on the rest of the world. China is one of the countries affected by Brexit. While academics tend to see Brexit through the lens of European politics, relatively little has been written on the consequences for China. This article employs a holistic vision to explore the impact on the China-UK relationship. The break with the European Union (EU) is reshaping the China-UK relationship in multiple dimensions: China-UK trade, China-EU trade, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), RMB internationalization, and studying in the UK. This article examines each of these aspects in turn, before concluding with a menu of options in response to Brexit.