Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

Implementing the Integrated Review: Tilt to the Indo-Pacific

Status: Closed Opened: 22 Jul 2021 Closed: 29 May 2024 32 recommendations 35 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will explore the questions raised by the ‘Tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ announced in the Integrated Review. By answering country specific and broader regional questions, the inquiry will identify the main opportunities and challenges for the UK’s realignment to the Indo-Pacific region and deliver recommendations for maximising its influence and engagement there. Read the … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the Integrated Review and… HC 172 30 Aug 2023 67 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

16 items
3 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Avoid prioritising Indo-Pacific engagement at the expense of commitments in the Middle East.

While we support a stronger foreign policy focus on the Indo-Pacific region, it should not be achieved at the expense of regions where we have historic and pressing commitments, in particular the Middle East.

Government response AI summary
The government agrees, stating the Integrated Review Refresh already clearly identifies the Middle East as a geographic priority integral to UK interests, confirming existing policy aligns with the committee's view.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
5 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Supporting continued prioritisation of Indo-Pacific relationships, trade, and investment for mutual economic benefit.

We support the continued prioritisation of the UK’s relationship with Indo-Pacific countries and all efforts to expand trade and investment links with one of the fastest growing regions of the world, which will benefit the economies of the UK and our partners globally. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's support and details specific actions, including signing the CPTPP Accession Protocol, pursuing further FTAs, increasing inward investment, and tackling market access barriers in the Indo-Pacific region.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
8 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Sustain Indo-Pacific policy initiatives consistently over time and communicate clearly to all partners.

We welcome the acceptance in the Refresh of our recommendation that the Government work away from the word “tilt” to describe its policy towards the Indo-Pacific while continuing to prioritise the region. We also welcome the list of additional actions the Government proposes to take to implement its newly-described policy … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees the Indo-Pacific is a long-term policy and commits to increasing strategic communications resources in the region to ensure sustained communication of its goals and intentions, directly addressing the committee's recommendation.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
9 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Doubling funding for China capabilities welcomed, but specific implementation details are missing.

[In the Refresh the Government states that it will double funding to build China capabilities across government to better understand China and allow the UK to engage confidently where it is in our interests to do so.] This is a welcome development, but no detail has been provided. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation and provides extensive detail on the China Capability Programme, outlining its curriculum, training, international events, and cross-government Mandarin language offer.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
19 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Proactively challenge and communicate unacceptability of PRC attacks on Hong Kong dissidents.

The Government must recognise repeated attacks on Hong Kong dissidents as part of wider PRC policy of repression, and proactively challenge this behaviour and communicate the unacceptability of such a policy directly with representatives of the PRC.

Government response AI summary
The government agrees that transnational repression on UK soil is unacceptable, affirming its zero-tolerance approach and commitment to protecting individuals. It states that it regularly communicates its expectations directly to concerned countries, including regarding Hong Kong activists.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Announce a clear zero-tolerance policy for transnational repression and expel offending foreign diplomats.

The Government should have had a policy of zero tolerance of transnational repression. It is unacceptable that this has not been the position up to now. It should now announce a clear policy of zero tolerance of transnational repression and be prepared to expel any foreign diplomats who engage in … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the unacceptability of transnational repression, affirms its zero-tolerance approach, and commits to taking all necessary action to protect individuals on UK shores, communicating expectations to foreign powers.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
25 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Create a strategic dependency risk assessment for CNI technologies to mitigate China reliance.

The Government recognises the threat that the Chinese Communist Party could use economic coercion to influence UK decision making by targeting strategically critical sectors. The Government has not taken adequate action to tackle this threat. It must work to identify which technologies, infrastructure and components the UK is most dependent … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the need to build resilience against China's economic coercion, confirming it is identifying dependencies in critical sectors, taking action to mitigate risks through diversification, and developing the Critical National Infrastructure Resilience Strategy.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
37 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Rectify Government's failure to sanction companies for supply chain human rights abuses.

The Government has as yet failed to sanction any companies for human rights abuses within their supply chains, demonstrating a lack of resolve towards preventing Uyghur forced labour products from flooding the UK. The Government should rectify this.

Government response AI summary
The government agrees it is unacceptable for states to violate human rights unsanctioned, and states the UK already takes robust action against human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including export controls, business guidance, and Magnitsky-style sanctions against Chinese officials and entities.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
38 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Denounce human rights abuses by autocracies and coordinate UNSC action to end them.

The Government must not be silent on human rights abuses, including state hostage- taking, by autocracies like the PRC and should use its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to denounce such abuses and coordinate action to end them. (Paragraph 110) Capacity building Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees to the recommendation and states it remains committed to using its UN Security Council seat to denounce human rights abuses, work with international partners, and make its position on human rights clear, citing a recent joint statement at the UN Human Rights …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
40 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Government's potential to pursue capacity-building programmes through Commonwealth organisations.

The Government could also seek to pursue programmes such as those suggested above [in the Capacity building chapter] through unifying organisations such as the Commonwealth grouping, and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. (Paragraph 125) Freeing up movement Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, explaining that the FCDO already operates a flexible language learning system aiming for 80% of speaker slots to be filled by C1/C2 language speakers, and develops language capability through existing operational and developmental training.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
43 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Vital to pursue multilateral and bilateral links with Southeast Asian countries.

It is vital to pursue links with Southeast Asian countries on both multilateral and bilateral tracks, respecting different value-systems and cultures.

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion on the vital importance of pursuing links with Southeast Asian countries multilaterally and bilaterally, highlighting its established relationship with ASEAN and individual member states.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
44 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Initiate Free Trade Agreement negotiations with ASEAN and strengthen bilateral relationships with member countries.

We recommend that as well as taking full advantage of the UK’s recently acquired status as a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, the UK should begin negotiations for an FTA with ASEAN, and concentrate equally on building bilateral relationships with ASEAN members based upon cooperation on those countries’ development objectives and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees, outlining how it is already leveraging its ASEAN Dialogue Partner status through a new Plan of Action, pursuing FTAs with Indonesia and India, and actively building bilateral relationships with ASEAN members through partnerships in areas like energy transition, maritime security, finance, and …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
45 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Objective to sign wide-ranging agreements and upgrade strategic partnerships with ASEAN members.

A proximate objective should be the signing of wide-ranging agreements, like those the UK has with Malaysia and Indonesia, with other ASEAN member countries as appropriate, and where possible upgrading existing strategic partnership agreements to Economic and Financial Dialogues. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of deepening engagement and signing wide-ranging agreements, noting existing strategic partnerships with Malaysia and Indonesia, a Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore, ongoing FTA negotiations with Indonesia, and an upgrade to the FTA with Korea.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
59 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Negotiate expanded cooperation agreement with Japan for English and Japanese language teaching

The UK should negotiate with Japan an agreement on expanded cooperation on the teaching of English in Japan and Japanese in the UK. (Paragraph 200) India

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, noting that through the Hiroshima Accord, the UK and Japan have already agreed to re-vitalize people-to-people exchanges, including those focused on Japanese and English languages.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
65 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

UK approach to Indonesia lacks sufficient diplomatic capacity and political willingness.

The UK’s approach to Indonesia should be underpinned by sufficient diplomatic capacity and greater political willingness than it is currently perceived to have. (Paragraph 216) Pacific Islands

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the conclusion, affirming it has already increased diplomatic capacity in Indonesia, expanded ministerial engagement, and driven progress on the UK-Indonesia Roadmap, including a 30% trade increase and new cooperation agreements.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
67 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted

Explain government support for efforts to end violence against women and girls in Pacific Islands.

The Government should explain if, and, if so, how it is supporting the Pacific Partnership and other efforts to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the Pacific Islands. (Paragraph 256) 74 Tilting horizons: the Integrated Review and the Indo-Pacific Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agreed to explain and confirmed its ongoing support for efforts to end violence against women and girls in the Pacific Islands, detailing existing contributions to UN Women and the UN Trust Fund.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
12 Jun 2023 Rt Hon James Cleverly · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
10 Jan 2023 Aman Hingorani · Supreme Court of India, Asoke Mukerji, Garima Mohan · The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Mosharraf Zaidi · Tabadlab, Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, Walter Ladwig III · King's College London View ↗
22 Nov 2022 Aaron Connelly · International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Ben Bland · Chatham House, Gregory Poling · Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, D.C., Jurgen Haacke · London School of Economics (LSE), Patrick Abbot · NIRAS Development Consulting, Shafiah Muhibat · Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta View ↗
5 Jul 2022 Bill Emmott · The Economist, Dr Alessio Patalano · Kings College London, Dr Jamie Collier · Mandiant, Mihoko Matsubara · NTT Corporation, Robert Ward · International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) View ↗
16 Nov 2021 Dr Alessio Patalano · Kings College London, Jason Hsu, Michael Reilly · Global Taiwan Institute View ↗
26 Oct 2021 Dr Jack Holland · University of Leeds, Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) View ↗
26 Oct 2021 Professor Rory Medcalf · Crawford School of Public Policy View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Dr Alessio Patalano · Department of War Studies Kings College London 2
Aaron Connelly · Senior Fellow for Southeast Asian Politics and Fo… International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 1
Aman Hingorani · Lawyer and mediator Supreme Court of India 1
Asoke Mukerji 1
Ben Bland · Director of the Asia-Pacific Programme Chatham House 1
Bill Emmott · Former Editor-in-Chief The Economist 1
Dr Jack Holland · Associate Professor in International Relations/Se… University of Leeds 1
Dr Jamie Collier · Senior Threat Intelligence Advisor Mandiant 1
Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Senior Research Fellow Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Garima Mohan · Senior Fellow The German Marshall Fund of the United States 1
Gregory Poling · Senior Fellow and Director, Southeast Asia Progra… Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, D.C. 1
Jason Hsu 1
Jurgen Haacke · Associate Professor, Department of International … London School of Economics (LSE) 1
Michael Reilly · Member, Advisory Board Global Taiwan Institute 1
Mihoko Matsubara · Chief Cybersecurity Strategist NTT Corporation 1
Mosharraf Zaidi · Journalist and CEO Tabadlab 1
Patrick Abbot · UK Director NIRAS Development Consulting 1
Professor Rory Medcalf · Head, National Security College Crawford School of Public Policy 1
Robert Ward · Japan Chair International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 1
Rt Hon James Cleverly · Secretary of State Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Shafiah Muhibat · Deputy Executive Director for Research Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta 1
Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG 1
Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE · Permanent Under-Secretary Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Walter Ladwig III · Senior Lecturer in International Relations King's College London 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
19 Jul 2023 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary following up on the FAC oral evidence…
16 Jun 2022 Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating …
19 May 2022 From cttee Letter to the Director General of the World Health Organization relating to Tai…
19 May 2022 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating to Taiwan,…