Rishi Sunak says UK must ‘evolve’ China foreign policy in face of ‘systemic challenge’

So-called golden era between the two countries is over and new approach needed in bilateral relations, Sunak says
China poses a ‘systemic challenge’ to Britain’s values and interests, PM says

Britain

Chad Brayin London

Published: 5:30am, 29 Nov 2022

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for Britain to “evolve” its policy approach to China on Monday, saying in his first major foreign policy address since taking office last month that the so-called golden era between the two countries had ended.

The idea put forth in prior Tory administrations that trade would lead to social and political reform in China was naive and a new approach to relations with Beijing is necessary, Sunak said.

“We recognise China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests, a challenge that grows more acute as it moves towards even greater authoritarianism,” he said in a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London.

Under former prime minister David Cameron, Britain had pushed for greater investment and economic ties as part of what was dubbed a “golden era” of cooperation between the countries that saw Chinese President Xi Jinping make a state visit to Britain in 2015.

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Queen Elizabeth hosts glittering state banquet for China's Xi Jinping

However, Britain should not resort to Cold War rhetoric and must recognise China’s significance in global affairs in crafting its policy, from climate change to global economic stability, Sunak said.

“The US, Canada, Australia, Japan and many others understand this too,” he said. “So together we’ll manage this sharpening competition, including with diplomacy and engagement.”

The Lord Mayor’s banquet was a chance for Sunak to set out his stall on foreign policy, just over a month after he succeeded Liz Truss as prime minister on October 26. Truss resigned last month after a tumultuous seven weeks as prime minister.

British prime ministers have traditionally used the annual banquet, which celebrates the newly elected lord mayor of the City of London, to address business leaders, international dignitaries and policy experts.

“In the face of these challenges, short-termism or wishful thinking will not suffice,” Sunak said. “We can’t depend on Cold War arguments or approaches, or mere sentimentality about the past.”

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“This means being stronger in defending our values and the openness on which our prosperity depends,” he added.

“It means delivering a stronger economy at home, as the foundation of our strength abroad. And it means standing up to our competitors, not with grand rhetoric but with robust pragmatism.”

As chancellor of the exchequer under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sunak had little foreign policy experience. Much of his political career was spent in the treasury.

Since taking office, much of Sunak’s time has focused on stabilising the British economy and restoring public confidence after his predecessor’s approach to an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and double-digit inflation unnerved financial markets.

However, Sunak has been working to burnish his foreign policy credentials.

US President Joe Biden, right, listens to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting in Bali on November 16. Photo: AP

In recent weeks, he has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky, attended the COP27 climate summit in Egypt and met with world leaders at the Group of 20 (G20) conference in Bali.

A meeting between Sunak and Xi on the sidelines of the G20 was cancelled at the last minute after Western leaders held emergency talks to discuss a missile strike in Poland.

Sunak is widely expected to take a more pragmatic approach to Beijing than his predecessor, who had sought to label China a “threat” alongside Russia as part of an ongoing refresh of the British government’s integrated review of defence and diplomatic strategy. The Asian power was previously labelled a “systemic competitor” in last year’s review.

However, a vocal wing of Sunak’s Conservative Party has been pushing for the government to take a more confrontational approach to Beijing, particularly when it comes to allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region or the controversial national security law in Hong Kong.

In Monday’s speech, he stressed the need for economic security, pointing to his government’s move to block the Chinese-led takeover of Britain’s biggest microchip factory and Britain’s prior blocking of Chinese-made telecommunications equipment from its 5G network.

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Deepening Britain’s ties with the Indo-Pacific and “reinvigorating” its relationships with Europe also its part of Britain’s evolving foreign policy approach in his government, Sunak said.

“By 2050, the Indo-Pacific will deliver over half of global growth compared with just a quarter from Europe and North America combined,” he said. “That’s why we’re joining the trans-Pacific trade deal, the [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership] CPTPP, delivering a new FTA with India and pursuing one with Indonesia.”

However, economics and security are “indivisible” in the Indo-Pacific region, Sunak said, pointing to new defence and technology partnerships, such as the Aukus security pact with Australia and the US and a plan to co-develop a future fighter jet aircraft with Japan and Italy.

“By deepening these ties we’ll help protect the arteries and ventricles of the global economy, supporting security and prosperity – both at home in our European neighbourhood and in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.