UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is the latest US ally to visit Beijing, pursuing renewed ties and trade deals.

Sucks, but the so-called “second world” is witnessing what sees as brisk business, deals with anyone from Canada to Taliban Afghanistan.

However I do not sugarcoat the fact that some countries are now handing themselves from one falling hegemony with another, one that allows greater reckless capitalism but devalues individual personal freedoms.