PM Rishi Sunak 'acutely aware' of threat China poses to UK's 'democratic way of life'

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “acutely aware” of the threat China posed to the country’s  “open and democratic way of life.”

This came after a scathing report on the UK’s China strategy was released by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.

The Prime Minister underscored that the government would take all necessary measures to protect the nation from foreign state activities, even as some members of the Conservative Party called for the official classification of China as a threat. Sunak, however, resisted such categorization, instead characterizing China as an “epoch-defining and systemic challenge.” He acknowledged the importance of engaging with this global superpower.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer referenced the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report in his criticism of the Prime Minister’s handling of China, asserting that the UK was lagging behind in terms of security preparedness. He called for a comprehensive review of UK-China relations.

Earlier in the week, news emerged of the arrest of a parliamentary researcher under the Official Secrets Act, amidst allegations of espionage for China. The detained researcher, who remains unnamed, vehemently denied these allegations through legal representation. He was one of two individuals arrested under the Official Secrets Act.

Responding to the committee’s report, Sunak expressed a heightened awareness of the necessity for a robust approach to counteract any state-driven threats. The report had warned that China’s Communist Party had effectively infiltrated various sectors of the UK’s economy, citing its use of size, ambition, and capability to do so. The committee raised concerns about China’s actions, stating that it often crossed the line from influence into interference. Specifically, China was noted for its successful attempts to influence academia and suppress criticism.

The government’s response, released alongside Sunak’s statement, concurred with these findings, acknowledging that certain Chinese actions exceeded the boundaries of influence and amounted to interference. The government recognised that China had targeted British and allied nationals in key positions, including those with sensitive knowledge and experience in government, military, industry, and society. Additionally, it mentioned that UK intelligence agencies were vigilant against the targeting of current and former civil servants.

The government pointed out a significant increase in resources allocated to addressing the China challenge within the UK intelligence community in recent years. Notably, the government had blocked eight investment deals involving Chinese-linked buyers using its powers to scrutinize foreign investments. It also highlighted the exclusion of Huawei from the UK’s 5G telecoms network and the government’s acquisition of a stake in the Sizewell C nuclear power project previously owned by the Chinese state-owned company CGN. The statement acknowledged the need for further investment in responding to this challenge and outlined plans to enhance Mandarin language training and expertise programs.

Sunak noted that the National Security Act passed in July, introduced new offences related to foreign interference, assisting foreign intelligence services, sabotage, and theft of trade secrets, making the UK a more challenging target. Steps have also been taken to protect freedom of speech in universities through the Higher Education Act.

Julian Lewis, Conservative MP and ISC chair rejected Sunak’s assertion that the report was outdated. He highlighted the committee’s continuous monitoring of relevant developments until shortly before publication.

The government emphasized that its approach to China was guided by the imperative of protecting the UK’s prosperity and security. This approach involved aligning with allies to address Beijing’s challenges and engaging with China for constructive and stable relations. Cooperation was deemed vital in various areas, including mutual economic interests and the global effort to combat climate change.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had defended his meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing, emphasizing that disengagement with China would not be a credible strategy. This meeting marked the first visit by a foreign secretary to China in five years.