Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Not Addressed
The Government must treat China the same as it treats any other state.
Recommendation
The Government must treat China the same as it treats any other state. It is therefore vital that the Government is transparent with Parliament and the public and outlines their strategy for engagement and the red lines for countering Chinese state influence, including the use of cyber-attacks and disinformation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) 83
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response discusses the CounterDaesh Communications Cell and its work against Daesh and al-Shabaab disinformation, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding transparency on China's state influence and cyber-attacks.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
36. We will not sacrifice our national security for economic growth. This red line was reiterated by the Prime Minister during his visit to China in January. The Government takes all threats to our national security seriously. Where we identify attempts to threaten our national security or democratic way of life, we will act; information threats are no exception to this. 37. We recognise the importance of raising public awareness of threats to the UK across the information, cyber, and physical domains. The Government is committed to being open about the nature of these threats, as well as responding proportionately. On 4 March, in his statement to Parliament, the Security Minister set out the Government’s assessment of Chinese covert activity, and commitments to tackle this through the Counter-Political Interference and Espionage Action Plan. 38. Our approach to China remains consistent, we will co-operate where we can and challenge where we must. Refusing to engage with China would be a dereliction of duty, leaving British interests on the sidelines.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗