China’s refusal to cooperate with the US on climate change shows that its leaders are are putting internal politics above addressing climate change

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan highlighted two separate but related conflicts in the region. One of these is the global competition between the US and China, with China challenging the US’s dominance in East Asia. The other is the fiercely nationalist and authoritarian Chinese ruling elite, and its long held ambition to incorporate Taiwan, replacing its liberal democracy with the rule by the mainland Chinese Communist Party.

Neither of these issues is remotely as important as the crisis of global warming. The Chinese leadership’s withdrawal of co-operation on climate change with the US is an irresponsible and cynical move which benefits no-one.

A climate dialogue between China and the US, world’s top two emitters of greenhouse gases, is vital for global action on climate change.