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 …

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

12 items
2 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Foreign Secretary acknowledges incomplete Indo-Pacific Tilt outcomes requiring long-term resources and clear objectives.

Therefore, we welcome the Foreign Secretary’s recognition that delivery of the Tilt’s outcomes is by no means complete, that his statement provides long-term intent, and that the Government will be keen to ensure that it is supported by a correspondingly long-term shift in resources and a clearer enunciation of the …

Government response. The government agrees the Indo-Pacific is a long-term priority and states it is increasing strategic communications resources in the region. However, it disagrees with the implication that it has not clearly set out its long-term objectives.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
10 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

BBC World Service language coverage remains inadequate for key Indo-Pacific nations.

[The Refresh is more specific in announcing that £20 million will be provided to enable the BBC World Service to protect all 42 World Service language services, support English language broadcasting and counter disinformation.] This is also a welcome development, though World Service language coverage still needs to be restored …

Government response. The government partially agrees, recognising the importance of the World Service's role; however, the visible response then pivots to economic connections and does not directly address the specific need to restore or initiate language coverage for several Indo-Pacific countries.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
13 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Enumerate extra expenditure comprehensively for China capabilities and diplomatic relationship strengthening.

The Government should enumerate extra expenditure more comprehensively and transparently than it has done in the Refresh. We welcome the doubling of funding to build China capabilities; this should be itemised in broad terms so that it is clear what kind of resources will be added. The Government should spell …

Government response. The government agrees and provides detailed itemisation of the doubled funding for China capabilities, outlining curriculum, training, events, and language offers, but does not provide broader enumeration of other extra expenditure or costs for diplomatic and people-to-people relationships.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
14 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Ensure commensurate uplift of CSSF funding allocated for the Indo-Pacific region.

The Government should also ensure the commensurate uplift of CSSF funding for Indo-Pacific region is put in place.

Government response. The government partially agrees to increase CSSF funding for the Indo-Pacific, stating that CSSF already prioritises the region, but that funding adjustments are made annually based on resources and evolving priorities due to fiscal challenges.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
15 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Publish and implement long-term language strategy for Indo-Pacific languages, including diplomat policy.

We recommend that the FCDO publish and implement a long-term, sustainable language strategy for Indo-Pacific languages, including targets for language learning, encouraging the establishment and/or expansion of language teaching in UK by Tilting horizons: the Integrated Review and the Indo-Pacific 67 developing a plan to expand existing university departments or …

Government response. The government partially agrees, detailing existing FCDO language learning systems and targets, but indicating limitations in adjusting diplomat posting policy. For broader language teaching, it cites existing school programmes and curriculum updates, noting education is a devolved matter, without committing …
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
30 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Strategic advantage for UK in collaborating with and eventually joining the Quad.

[While stressing the importance of AUKUS, the Refresh makes no mention of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad) established in 2007 and renewed since 2017 between Australia, India, Japan and the United States. We heard differing opinions from witnesses on whether the UK should apply to join the Quad, with …

Government response. The government partially agrees, stating that membership of the Quad is not necessary but the UK will continue to work with Quad members bilaterally and multilaterally on critical issues.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
31 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Seek to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) given shared objectives.

Given the strength of our bilateral defence relationships with Quad members and the correlation between the UK’s and Quad’s objectives, the UK should seek to join the Quad.

Government response. The government partially agrees, stating that membership of the Quad is not necessary but the UK will continue to work with Quad members bilaterally and multilaterally on critical issues.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
46 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Official Development Assistance in the region should target regulatory improvement for business environment.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the region should be targeted on regulatory improvement to strengthen the rule of law and build an effective business environment to encourage both domestic and inward investment. Progress on this should be measured by establishing a model composed of indicators based on World Bank and …

Government response. The government agrees on targeting ODA for regulatory improvement to strengthen the business environment and states the new ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme will promote regulatory excellence. However, it notes ODA also supports other priorities and does not commit to establishing …
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
53 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Press for Taiwan to gain membership in key international bodies and organisations

The Government should press for Taiwan to take its place in international bodies, including the WHO, the OECD, the IEA and the CPTPP, for the benefit of all countries.

Government response. The government partially agrees, stating support for Taiwanese participation in international organizations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is, specifically citing support for observer status at the World Health …
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
60 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Sustain and strengthen UK naval presence in Indo-Pacific, pursuing full Quad membership.

[Protecting national interests requires a continuation of the UK’s strong naval presence in the West Indian Ocean sector of the Indo-Pacific region that should be increasingly coordinated with like-minded countries, in particular France, the United States and India, to sustain and strengthen the UK’s key role there.] Tilting horizons: the …

Government response. The government partially agrees, welcoming Quad members' collaborative efforts and committing to continued bilateral and multilateral work with them, but states that full membership of the Quad is not necessary for the UK to deliver practical cooperation.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
64 Recommendation Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Expand Science and Technology cooperation and support increased Indian student numbers.

The Government should also seek to support student numbers to grow from India, but also expand our Science and Technology co-operation, putting it at the centre of our ambitions with our Indian partners. (Paragraph 214) Indonesia

Government response. The government partially agrees regarding student numbers, welcoming Indian students as part of a broader goal to host 600,000 international students by 2030, but does not commit to increasing numbers from specific countries. It fully supports and is expanding Science …
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
66 Conclusion Eighth Report - Tilting horizons: the I… Accepted in Part

Encourage regular Foreign Secretary visits and establish UK-Pacific Islands consultative body.

We encourage repeat visits by the Foreign Secretary to the Pacific Islands at appropriate intervals and recommend that the Government consider attending Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meetings such as the PIF leaders meeting. We also recommend setting up a UK-Pacific Islands consultative body to widen and deepen cooperation between the …

Government response. The government agrees to sustained engagement, confirming recent visits by the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Indo-Pacific to Pacific Islands Forum meetings, with a commitment for ministers to remain engaged. However, it explicitly states it is not looking to create …
Foreign and Commonwealth 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 ↗

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 Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating to Taiwan,…
19 May 2022 From cttee Letter to the Director General of the World Health Organization relating to Tai…