As the chapters in this collection individually and collectively show, the UK is not alone in witnessing a dramatic and quick shift in the dominant narrative of the consequences of China's rise. However, an argument can be made that the extent of the change in the UK marks it out as a special case. This chapter will focus on political narratives on China as having emerged from political fora or produced by politicians in the UK (Shenhav, 2006), while adding the aspect of agendas (topical foci) within the broad spectrum of UK– China relations. As Patterson and Monroe note (1998: 324), narratives become particularly important at times of conflict or rapid change, as actors draw on familiar scripts and themes to make sense of changing contexts. Faced with the emergence of new global narratives of geopolitical competition, actors on both sides of the Eurasian landmass are discovering themselves ‘as a new kind of character participating in a different kind of plot’ (Ringmar, 1996: 456). At the same time, as the following discussion suggests, even when faced with a changing global context, existing narratives may persist (see also Freeman and Révész, this volume).

In October 2015, Xi Jinping's arrival in the UK was hailed as evidence of a new ‘Golden Era’ of UK– China relations. Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne were keen to establish the idea of the UK as China's best friend in Europe and the economy most open to China in the West. Indeed, they were praised by Xi Jinping himself for their ‘visionary and strategic choice’ in engaging China when others were becoming more cautious.