UK wooing China, but remains loyal US ally

Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his maiden state visit to the United Kingdom on Friday. His visit marked the start of a "golden era" of openness and win-win cooperation for both countries, which now intend to build a "global comprehensive strategic partnership" for the 21st century together.

Indeed, Xi's four-day trip has been hailed as a bigger success than his September visit to the United States; and it has been seen as an indication that the UK has bet on China's long-term rise and the US' relative decline. But fruitful as it has been, this diplomatic event will make little difference to the bonds that exist between the three countries.

In other words, the UK is expected to benefit from both its close economic ties with China, as well as its political ties with the US, without making them badly intertwined.