NEW SPEECH: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlines his China approach
A Beijing to Britain note
“Let’s be clear, the so-called “golden era” is over, along with the naïve idea that trade would lead to social and political reform. But nor should we rely on simplistic Cold War rhetoric. 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.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
Hello,
The UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has just finished delivering his first major foreign policy speech since arriving in Downing Street. Sunak declared the Golden Era to be well and truly over and criticised those using ‘Cold War rhetoric’ when it came to addressing the challenge China creates. The Prime Minister also discussed the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to his premiership, and concluded by quoting Henry Kissinger.
This short briefing note pulls key quotes from the speech - paying readers also receive added analysis and the entire transcript.
Key quotes
On the UK’s values in a changing world
“But as the world evolves, so does our application of those values [fairness, freedom and the rule of law]. As Edmund Burke argued, circumstances and context are everything. And today the pace of geopolitical change is intensifying. Our adversaries and competitors plan for the long term.”
On China’s aims
“China is consciously competing for global influence using all the levers of state power.”
On his strategy
“In the face of these challenges, short-termism or wishful thinking will not suffice. We can’t depend on Cold War arguments or approaches, or mere sentimentality about the past. So we will make an evolutionary leap in our approach.
This means being stronger in defending our values and the openness on which our prosperity depends. 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.
We will do all this not only through our diplomatic expertise, science and tech leadership, and investment in defence and security, but by dramatically increasing the quality and depth of our partnerships with like-minded countries around the world.”
On the UK’s approach to China
“We also need to evolve our approach to China. Let’s be clear, the so-called “golden era” is over, along with the naïve idea that trade would lead to social and political reform. But nor should we rely on simplistic Cold War rhetoric. 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. Instead of listening to their people’s protests, the Chinese Government has chosen to crack down further, including by assaulting a BBC journalist.
The media – and our parliamentarians – must be able to highlight these issues without sanction, including calling out abuses in Xinjiang – and the curtailment of freedom in Hong Kong. Of course, we cannot simply ignore China’s significance in world affairs - to global economic stability or issues like climate change.”
On the need to work with allies in the context of China
“The US, Canada, Australia, Japan and many others understand this too. So together we’ll manage this sharpening competition, including with diplomacy and engagement.
Much of this is about dramatically improving our resilience, particularly our economic security. That’s why we created new powers under the National Security and Investment Act, it’s why we used them this month to block the sale of Newport Wafer Fab. It's why we took action on 5G. And it's why we’re ending global dependence on authoritarian regimes.”
On the UK’s Indo-Pacific approach
“We’re also acting to deepen our ties in the Indo-Pacific – the third example of where we’re evolving our approach. Before I came into politics, I invested in businesses around the world. And the opportunity in the Indo-Pacific is compelling. Take Indonesia, which I visited this month. It’s a young, vibrant country, the world’s third largest democracy, poised to become a top 5 economy.
By 2050, the Indo-Pacific will deliver over half of global growth compared with just a quarter from Europe and North America combined. That’s why we’re joining the Trans-Pacific trade deal, the CPTPP, delivering a new FTA with India and pursuing one with Indonesia.”
On Indo-Pacific security, trade and AUKUS
“But in the Indo-Pacific economics and security are indivisible. 60% of global trade passes through regional shipping routes, including choke points like the straits of Malacca. It’s in our interests to keep these trade lines open. That’s why we joined the Five Power Defence Arrangements with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore half a century ago.
And it’s why we’re evolving new long-term defence, industrial and technological partnerships, like AUKUS with Australia and the US, and the Future Combat Air System with Italy and Japan.
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.”
On the Kissinger approach to international relations
As Henry Kissinger wrote: “during periods of crisis, whether war, technological change or economic dislocation, management of the status quo may be the riskiest choice of all.”