Recommendations & Conclusions
16 items
3
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
5
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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.
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
8
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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 …
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
9
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
[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.
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
19
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
22
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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 …
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
25
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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 …
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
37
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
38
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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
Government response. 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 …
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
40
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
43
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
It is vital to pursue links with Southeast Asian countries on both multilateral and bilateral tracks, respecting different value-systems and cultures.
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
44
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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 …
Government response. 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 …
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
45
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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.
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
59
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
65
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
67
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I…
Accepted
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
Government response. 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.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office