For China, Brexit reflects a failure of democracy

THE British referendum on quitting the European Union, which is causing tremors across Europe, is being used by China to strengthen its arguments against democracy.

Last Friday, the state-owned Global Times newspaper published an editorial that painted a gloomy picture not only of Britain but of Europe. Already, it said, a lose-lose situation was emerging with both the British pound and the euro falling in value. It also pointed out that Britain may face another independence referendum in Scotland while there are calls in the Netherlands and France to exit the EU.

In its heyday, the editorial said, the UK "was known as an empire on which the sun never set, with colonies all over the world". Today, however, the UK is stepping backward. "Britons are already showing a losing mind-set. They may become citizens of a nation that prefers to shut itself from the outside world."