Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee
The UK Government’s China Audit
Status: Closed
Opened: 27 Mar 2025
Closed: 20 May 2026
Inquiry scope
Although China is the UK’s fifth largest trading partner, the UK Government has, in recent years, described China as an “epoch-defining and systemic challenge”. Last November, the Foreign Secretary told the Committee that we need a consistent approach to China. The Government launched the China Audit in late 2024 in order to understand how the UK can respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. However, the precise remit of the Audit has not yet been published. This inquiry will examine the process and outcomes of the China Audit, and how these support UK national interests. It will also explore the Government’s long-term approach to China, and how it intends to ensure consistency across Government, business and academia towards engagement with China. Read the call for evidence for more details about the inquiryOral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 2026 | Guibourg Delamotte · French Institute of Oriental and African Studies (Inalco), Her Excellency Mrs Susanne Christine Baumann · Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the United Kingdom, Professor Yuichi Hosoya · Keio University, Japan, Robert Ward · International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Guibourg Delamotte · Professor of Political Science, Japanese Studies Department | French Institute of Oriental and African Studies (Inalco) | 1 |
| Her Excellency Mrs Susanne Christine Baumann · Ambassador | Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the United Kingdom | 1 |
| Professor Yuichi Hosoya · Professor of International Politics | Keio University, Japan | 1 |
| Robert Ward · Japan Chair | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | 1 |