China
is a ‘sophisticated and persistent threat’ but freezing the UK’s relations with
Beijing
is ‘not an option’, Foreign Secretary
David Lammy
told MPs today.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Lammy outlined the findings of the Government’s examination of the UK-China relationship.
The ‘China audit’ recommended increasing Britain’s ‘resilience and readiness’ towards the Asian superpower and the Government’s ability to engage with Beijing.
As part of
Labour
‘s national security strategy, a summary of the audit set out how ‘China’s espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years’.
But it also noted how ministers are seeking a ‘trade and investment relationship’ with China to boost the
UK economy
.
Mr Lammy told MPs that in the past decade China has delivered a third of global economic growth, becoming the world’s second largest economy.
Together with Hong Kong, it is the UK’s third largest trading partner, the
Foreign Secretary
added.
‘Not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all,’ he said. ‘China’s power is an inescapable fact.’
Mr Lammy said the audit painted a ‘complex picture’ but ‘the UK’s approach to China will be founded on progressive realism, taking the world as it is, not as we wish it to be’.
The Foreign Secretary faced claims that the Government was going ‘cap in hand’ to China to bail out the British economy.
Tory shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: ‘It has taken the Government a year to produce this audit, which seemingly fails to set out any kind of serious strategic framework.
‘I think it’s fair to say we know why: because the Government – and in fact the Foreign Secretary has touched on this – has gone cap in hand to China to bail out its terrible handling of the British economy.
‘It is setting up its closer economic ties with China while knowing very well that British businesses here are struggling, not just when it comes to competing against China, but actually struggling to absorb the weight of Labour’s own regulatory costs in this country.’
Mr Lammy was also forced to assure MPs that there are ‘no grubby deals’ with China on any issue, including the proposed ‘super-embassy’ in London.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Foreign Secretary: ‘I’ll give him a quick audit now of exactly what should have been.
‘China threatens Taiwan, has invaded the South China Sea, it’s having massive disputes with the Philippines, genocide, slave labour, organ harvesting, transnational repression, taxes Hong Kong dissidents here, Hong Kong dissidents under threat constantly, cyber-attacks on the UK, supports Myanmar in their oppressive military regime, supports Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, it also supports North Korea and Iran and has trashed the Sino-British treaty on Hong Kong, it has arrested Jimmy Lai, it has sanctions on UK MPs and it thieves all the IPs on private companies.
‘What a record to balance, what? Against some potential trade?’
He added: ‘In the course of this embassy decision, it was said quite clearly in the media that China would not apply again after the refusal of Tower Hamlets (Council), unless they received assurances from the UK Government.
‘Can he now tell me that they have not received any assurances, or have they received private assurances that they will get what they want and get this embassy?’
Mr Lammy responded: ‘Let me just express respect for (Sir Iain’s) experience in relation to the China threat and also that he is subject to sanctions that I have consistently raised with China, noting that recently it lifted sanctions against members of the European Parliament and I pressed them recently to do the same.
‘Let me assure him that there are no grubby deals on any issues and certainly not in relation to the embassy – and I reject any suggestion of anything other.’
The China audit underlined the need for ‘direct and high-level engagement and pragmatic cooperation where it is in our national interest’, signalling further high-level talks with Beijing.
‘In a more volatile world, we need to reduce the risks of misunderstanding and poor communication that have characterised the relationship in recent years,’ the strategy said.
‘China’s global role makes it increasingly consequential in tackling the biggest global challenges, from climate change to global health to financial stability.
‘We will seek a trade and investment relationship that supports secure and resilient growth and boosts the UK economy.’
But the strategy acknowledged ‘several major areas, such as human rights and cyber security, where there are stark differences and where continued tension is likely’.
The report noted: ‘Instances of China’s espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years.
‘Our national security response will therefore continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defences and responding with strong counter-measures.
‘We will continue to protect the Hong Kong community in the UK and others from transnational repression.’
The China audit recommended ‘an increase in China capabilities across the national security system’.
‘That includes creating the basis for a reciprocal and balanced economic relationship, by providing guidance to those in the private or higher education sectors for which China is an important partner,’ the strategy said.
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