China’s attempts to spy, destabilise and disrupt Britain’s economy and democracy have grown, but Beijing is still a vital economic partner for the UK, the government said on Tuesday.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said “China’s power is an inescapable fact” and freezing relations with the world’s second biggest economy is “not an option”. He spoke to lawmakers as he outlined findings from the government’s “China audit”.
“China is our third biggest trading partner, our universities’ second largest source of international students. China will continue to play a vital role in supporting the UK’s secure growth,” Lammy said.
The Labour Party government pledged to conduct an in-depth examination of UK-China relations after it was elected almost a year ago, in an effort to balance the country’s economic interests and its security. Many details of the review will remain classified for security reasons, Lammy said.
Its conclusions were summarised in a document outlining the UK government’s broader national security strategy. It said that “instances of China’s espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years”.
Yet the government resisted pressure from China hawks in parliament to label China a threat on a par with Russia. The security review called it a “geostrategic challenge” but also an essential player in tackling major issues such as climate change, global health and economic stability.
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‘Full audit’ of Sino-UK ties as new Labour Party government looks for reset in bilateral relations
‘Full audit’ of Sino-UK ties as new Labour Party government looks for reset in bilateral relations
