UK-China Relations Under Current Labour Government
Tonia Chan is a second year Politics and Sociology student, with an interest in diplomatic relations and the role of international institutions in shaping global policy. She is a student ambassador at Chatham House.
The Shift in UK-China Policy
The previous Conservative government operated under the policy of ‘protect, align and engage’ and labelled China as the ‘greatest threat’ to the UK. The Conservative Prime Minister accused Beijing of initiating cyberattacks against British MPs and institutions. [1] In contrast, the new Labour government has adopted a different stance, implementing the strategy of ‘challenge, compete, cooperate’. Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s recent visit to China reflects the pragmatic and strategic approach that the Labour government intends to pursue in the UK-China relations. [2] This visit marks only the second time in six years that a British foreign secretary has been sent to China. The British representatives, led by Lammy, and the Chinese officials, including Wang Yi and Ding Xuexiang, expressed optimism regarding the constructive nature of their discussions. They acknowledged differences from both sides while emphasising cooperation as the central focus. Mao Ning, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remarked positively on China’s view of the UK as a partner and wished to promote mutual benefit, thus resulting in a win-win situation. Ultimately, how the government's 'three Cs' policy — ‘challenge, compete, cooperate’ are defined will significantly influence and shape the trajectory of UK-China relations in the coming years. [3]
Challenging China
Following Lammy’s acknowledgement of the differing viewpoints held by both countries on various issues, the Foreign Office indicated that he expressed concerns about China providing military support to Russia in Russia-Ukraine War. He plans to urge China to cease any political and economic support for Russia, as it could jeopardise China’s relations with European nations. Whilst China asserts its neutrality in the conflict and denies supporting Russia by selling weapons to Moscow. According to the Foreign Office, Lammy also addressed human rights concerns regarding the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, as well as ‘serious concerns’ over the erosion of freedoms in Hong
Kong under the implementation of National Security Law. [4] In addition, Lammy and Sir Keir Starmer called for the release of the pro-democracy newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai, who has been arbitrarily detained and charged under the National Security Law in Hong Kong. [5] Addressing these issues remains a significant priority for the Labour government. The UK will need to seek to balance its national interests with the changing geopolitical landscape, ensuring that its relationship with China reinforces its commitment to democratic values and freedoms.
Balancing Cooperation and Competition
The Labour government prioritises economic growth, supply chain and climate commitment through re-establishing links with China. This approach reflects a strategic recognition of China's significance within the global economy and aims to leverage opportunities for cooperation in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and technology. The mutual desire to boost trade and investment is also a central interest of China, which explains Lammy visit to Shanghai, a major hub for British businesses in China, as two-thirds of British companies operating in China are based there. Lammy highlighted that 95% of business activities between the UK and China are purely commercial and unrelated to national security concerns, thereby emphasising the clear distinction between economic engagement and security risks. The substantial bilateral trade figure of approximately US$98 billion last year further underscores the strong economic relationship between the UK and China. Additionally, over 500 Chinese enterprises established in the UK indicates deep commercial ties between the two countries. As the UK navigates the complexities of its relationship with China, the Labour government's approach is characterised by a pragmatic approach, prioritising national interests through economic engagement and cooperation. [3]
Defining a Clear Policy Towards China
As the global landscape continues to evolve, the UK will need to carefully balance its security concerns with its economic interests in its relationship with China. It is essential for the UK to adopt a realistic perspective regarding its limited ability to influence China’s political outlook and decisions. Furthermore, the UK will need to acknowledge that its security policies cannot be fully isolated from its economic objectives concerning China, thus, a nuanced approach is necessary to maintain both security and a functional economic relationship. [6] Future interactions with China should be strategically focused on enhancing UK’s own national power and innovation capabilities. Given that the UK’s economy is predominantly services-based, complete isolation from Beijing will likely result in negative effects on its productivity and overall prosperity. The fragility of the UK’s economic well-being will significantly influence its relationship with China, potentially constraining the UK's flexibility and positioning it in
a subordinate role within their diplomatic relationship. In recent years, the British government’s relationship with China has deteriorated, and its policy approach has been characterised by ambiguity. [5] It remains uncertain how the Labour government will delineate its stance between challenging China's actions, competing with it in trade, and cooperating on shared global interests. Under Labour's leadership, establishing a more defined strategy regarding the UK's approach to China is essential, especially considering China's human rights violations and its close connections with Russia. A coherent strategy will not only strengthen the UK's diplomatic influence but also ensure its foreign policy aligns with its core values.
Works Cited
[1] Lanktree, G. (2024) What a labour government means for UK-China relations, POLITICO. Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/labour government-uk-china-relations-diplomacy-rival-elections-2024-foreign-policy david-lammy/ (Accessed: 13 November 2024).
[2] GovUK. (2024) Foreign secretary visits China, GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visits-china--2 (Accessed: 13 November 2024).
[3] SCMP (2024) Lammy visit to China first sign of a thaw in Sino-British relations. Available at: https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3284079/lammy visit-china-first-sign-thaw-sino-british-relations (Accessed: 13 November 2024).
[4] Landale, J. (2024) BBC News, Labour tiptoes nervously towards a China policy. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx25d97jy7po (Accessed: 13 November 2024).
[5] Johnston, N. (2024) David Lammy: Foreign secretary faces complicated and contentious issues on China visit, Sky News. Available at:
https://news.sky.com/story/david-lammy-foreign-secretary-faces-complicated and-contentious-issues-on-china-trip-13235307 (Accessed: 13 November 2024).
[6] Chatham House (2024) The UK’s next government must redefine its confused relationship with China. Available at:
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/06/uks-next-government-must-redefine its-confused-relationship-china (Accessed: 13 November 2024).
