Mostly this. Just because both ships have AESA and similarly ranged SAM's doesn't mean the quality of those systems are the same. In fact it's easier for me to assume that they are not than for you to assume that they are. No doubt China has come a long way with naval warfare systems but just by what I know of the PLAN I would say they are not up to state of the art in naval technology. The UK is. Problem?
Not really. It's perfectly fine to have antiship missiles and main guns on ships, but comparing these barely important systems to each other and stating one ship is better than another on these bases is skewing the truly important aspects of capital ships these days, which is air defense, and to a lesser extent ASW and strike. In that regard, the missile system, radar system, and combat management system of a given ship is the true basis of comparison between different ships. Even if the 052C had better antiship missiles and main guns than the Type 45, I would still give the edge to the Type 45 based on its anti-air systems which I guess to be better than the Type 052C, and like I said, my bet on this is more likely than yours, and you know it.
