Chinese attempts to spy on and destabilise Britain have grown, but Beijing remains a vital economic partner, a government audit concludes
China’s attempts to spy, destabilise and disrupt Britain’s economy and democracy have grown, but Beijing is still a vital economic partner for the UK, the government said on Tuesday.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said “China’s power is an inescapable fact” and freezing relations with the world’s second biggest economy is “not an option”. He spoke to lawmakers as he outlined findings from the government’s “China audit”.
“China is our third biggest trading partner, our universities’ second largest source of international students. China will continue to play a vital role in supporting the UK’s secure growth,” Lammy said.
The Labour Party government pledged to conduct an in-depth examination of UK-China relations after it was elected almost a year ago, in an effort to balance the country’s economic interests and its security. Many details of the review will remain classified for security reasons, Lammy said.
