China’s power, economic reach and technological prowess mean the UK’s relationship with it is of vital importance. However, the UK’s approach has fallen short of the strategic response required by the challenges China presents. Deeper bilateral links are unavoidable given China’s geopolitical and economic influence. But closer engagement requires significantly stronger mitigation of the risks China poses to UK national security, as well as steps to build resilience to the effects of Sino-US competition.
This paper advocates an improved strategy focused on securing British national interests in the context of: ongoing Chinese transnational repression and influence operations in the UK; an economic relationship combining supply-chain dependencies with substantial commercial and technological opportunities; and a long-term shift to a post-rules-based international order characterized by great power competition.
Recommendations include: a zero-tolerance approach to Chinese malign influence operations in the UK; sector-specific encouragement (or, as appropriate, restriction) of Chinese investment; and cooperation with allies to improve supply-chain resilience and deter Chinese aggression. The UK should adopt a more explicitly autonomous approach to navigating Sino-US strategic competition, even if this means diverging significantly from the US on China-related issues.
The paper is the first in a series of two Chatham House research publications on UK foreign policy in Asia. A companion paper, on the UK’s other Indo-Pacific relationships, will be published in mid-July.
DOI: 10.55317/9781784136475
