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Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

Update to the UK's Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy

Status: Closed Opened: 11 Nov 2022 Closed: 31 May 2023 6 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

The inquiry will explore what changes the Government should include in the Integrated Review refresh, reflecting recent changes to the UK’s strategic environment. The inquiry will focus in particular on how the Integrated Review refresh should address the future of UK-China relations, as well as broader changes required in light of the Russian invasion of …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach? Updating the Integr… HC 882 18 Dec 2022 8 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
3 Recommendation Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?… Rejected

The Integrated Review designated China as a “systemic competitor”.

The Integrated Review designated China as a “systemic competitor”. Strong language that is not coupled by action does nothing to alleviate confusion, and risks increasing uncertainty and undermining our credibility. The Government needs to be firmer and more explicit in articulating the UK’s security interests when it comes to China. …

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to change the language from "systemic competitor" to "threat," arguing that it is not smart foreign policy to simplify the approach to China to a single word.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
15 Nov 2022 Air Marshal Edward Stringer (Ret'd) CB, CBE · Policy Exchange, Andrew Seaton · China-Britain Business Council, Ed Arnold · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC · Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Veerle Nouwens · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) View ↗