Sunak promises ‘swift and robust action’ to counter Chinese threat

• Britain is committed to taking “swift and aggressive action” to address any danger,
• To UK national interests from China, which poses a “epoch-defining and systemic challenge”.
• The assessment supports plans to increase defense spending by £5 billion.

According to Rishi Sunak‘s revised framework for UK foreign and defense policy, Britain is committed to taking “swift and aggressive action” to address any danger to UK national interests from China.

According to the “refreshed” integrated review (IR23), China’s Communist Party administration poses a “epoch-defining and systemic challenge” to virtually every facet of public policy and the daily lives of Britons.

While the UK will continue to work “constructive[ly]” with the regime to address shared priorities, the assessment cautions that if Beijing continues its path towards increased “authoritarianism and aggressiveness,” this will become more challenging.

The strategy, which has been endorsed by significant allies such as those in Europe, the US, Australia, Canada, and Japan, is described in the book as a “template for adult diplomacy” between two permanent members of the UN Security Council.

“Where there are attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to coerce or create dependencies, we will work closely with others to push back against them”

“Where it is consistent with these interests, we will engage constructively with the Chinese government, business and people and cooperate on shared priorities,” the review  says.

“But wherever the Chinese Communist Party’s actions and stated intent threaten the UK’s interests, we will take swift and robust action to protect them.”

In his foreword to the review, Mr. Sunak says: “China poses an epoch-defining challenge to the type of international order we want to see, both in terms of security and values – and so our approach must evolve.”

“We will work with our partners to engage with Beijing on issues such as climate change. But where there are attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to coerce or create dependencies, we will work closely with others to push back against them.”

As part of the Aukus project to create nuclear-powered submarines for the Australian military, the paper was released while the prime minister was in California for a three-way summit with the United States and Australia.

The updated version of Boris Johnson’s initial integrated review, which was created in 2021, was partly created in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It identifies two “particularly concerning” trends as China’s “deepening collaboration” with Russia and Moscow’s “increasing cooperation” with Iran.

It mentions the “danger” that certain of Beijing’s acts represent, but it does not characterize the Chinese state as a threat in and of itself, drawing criticism from “hawks” in the Tory party.

Liz Truss had been expected to officially re-designate China as a “threat” if her premiership had not been so brief.

Since he made a bid to succeed Boris Johnson as Tory leader last summer, Mr. Sunak has toned down his own comments regarding China. He described China as the “biggest-long term threat to Britain” at the time.

“Does that now mean that China is a threat or an epoch-defining challenge or a challenging government epoch or none of that?” he asked to laughter from MPs.

Foreign Secretary James  Cleverly replied: “He will see through our actions that we do respond robustly to China when it behaves in a way that we disagree but we will also attempt to steer China in a better direction.”

The assessment supports plans published tonight to increase defense spending by £5 billion over the next two years – less than Defense Minister Ben Wallace had been allegedly requesting – with a “aspiration” to grow it to 2.5% of national revenue “as fiscal and economic circumstances allow”.

An additional £1.98 billion will be allocated for defense funding this year and £2.97 billion the next year.

While £1.9 billion will be used to restock and strengthen munitions stockpiles, approximately £3 billion will be invested in defense nuclear projects, including supporting the Aukus project.

According to the assessment, the UK will cooperate with nations like Moldova, Mongolia, and central Asia to counteract Moscow’s “malign” influence on the international stage while “degrading” Russian capabilities that pose a threat to the UK.

“A vital part of this is supporting Ukraine to reassert its sovereignty and denying Russia any strategic benefit from its invasion,” it says.

In addition, a brand-new MI5 division called the National Preventive Security Authority, which was established on Monday, will offer UK companies and other organisations professional guidance on how to thwart foreign spies.

The government-wide China capabilities initiative will receive twice as much funding, which will improve diplomatic and Mandarin language training.

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