Brexit still unsettled despite agreed terms of divorce: China Daily editorial

Brexit has been compared to someone leaving a marital house to put an end to the arguments, only to find that their former spouse is keeping the house, the car and the joint bank accounts.

Which while not entirely accurate hints at why it has been so hard for Britain and the European Union to strike a deal, as both parties want to feel that they have had the upper hand in the negotiations on their divorce settlement, and both feel they have been wronged for one reason or another.

It seems that they have finally come to an agreement, as it was announced on Tuesday that a technical agreement has been reached to end their union after more than a year of hard talks.

That will be a relief to those fearing the uncertainty of a no deal as the clock remorselessly counts down the days. A deal on Brexit must be struck before the Wednesday deadline for Britain and the EU to call the special summit to seal it later this month. Failure would delay the final settlement, leaving little time for British Prime Minister Theresa May to get the deal and associated legislation through parliament in time for Britain's withdrawal from the bloc next March.

May sees it as her mission to avoid the so-called hard-Brexit, a scenario that many fear would throw the country into chaos. She has done all she could to minimize disruption by keeping her compromise Brexit plan - which seeks to leave the EU but maintain closer trade ties with it - on track. It remains to be seen whether she will be able to achieve that, but at least she has navigated the first hurdle.

That may give her some relief, but probably only temporarily. She still has to get approval from her cabinet and parliament.

So far it seems mission impossible, as she is facing opposition from Brexiteers, pro-Europeans and even some of her own ministers. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who quit the cabinet over Brexit in July, said the deal would leave Britain a "vassal state" and asked his former colleagues to "chuck it out".

Which means her efforts may be in vain since a no-deal or even no-exit remains a possibility.

May once said she remained "confident" that the government could strike "a good deal", but in the event of a no-deal, Britain would be ready if need be to go on and thrive.

Many in Britain and elsewhere will be hoping those words are not put to the test.