The British government urgently needs to develop a clear strategy for relations with China, states a new report from the Policy Institute at Kings College London.
The report, authored by Charles Parton OBE, a veteran diplomat who spent 22 years working in or on China, argues that the governments China policy has long been outdated.
In particular, the approach adopted by former Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne, who put economic engagement above all else, has been discredited, it says.
The Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) “bullying diplomacy” over the CCP virus pandemic, commonly known as novel coronavirus, has made the policy rethink even more urgent, the author suggests.
“Its behaviours domestically are unlikely to differ from its conduct abroad, a lesson clear from recent bullying diplomacy connected with COVID-19,” the report says. “Disagreement with the CCP is seen as hostile, not as an assertion of the right to conduct affairs differently.”
The British government is urged to “give greater priority to UK values, interests, and national security—and not allow these to be prejudiced by economic cooperation with China.”
The author highlights the CCPs influence operations in the UK through its “united front” work. The regime seeks to “capture” UK politicians where it can, and often tries to “work through those who can influence government policy—former politicians (especially in the House of Lords), ex-civil servants, businessmen, high-profile academics, or scholars in think tanks.”
To counter such operations, the report suggests, the government should consider enacting a UK version of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act and follow the Australian governments example and set up a National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator.
The government is urged to “study carefully” measures taken by like-minded states, particularly Taiwan, which is the front line for CCP interference operations.
The government should set a policy on Chinese participation in the UKs critical national infrastructure and revisit the Huawei 5G decision “by the end of 2020 at the latest,” the report advises.
On Hong Kong, the report welcomes the UKs announcement of the right of BNO (British nationals overseas) passport holders to stay in the UK on a path to citizenship, but points out that it will do little to deter the CCP.
Therefore, it suggests, the UK should do more to generate publicity on Hong Kong by getting other countries to speak out, putting the issue on the agenda of G7, G20, and other international meetings, and even taking China to the International Court of Justice.
The report emphasizes the importance of unity with like-minded countries—both the “Five Eyes” alliance and other liberal democracies in the European Union and Asia—with which the UK needs to “set up further mechanisms for consultation and cooperation on meeting the challenges presented by the CCPs global rise.”
Some of Britains allies have already expressed willingness to cooperate.
In early June, after Beijing threatened to punish British bank HSBC and to break comRead More – Source
