Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Deferred
Explore widening UK-Japan partnership to include digital, cyber technologies and AUKUS ties.
Recommendation
The UK should explore with Japan the potential to widen the partnership to include digital and cyber technologies, to explore potential ties to the AUKUS programme, and to develop joint exports to allies across the region. 34 Furthermore, the Government should quickly deepen the economic security dialogues with Asia Pacific allies to enhance our mutual resilience and diversity of our supply chains. (Recommendation, Paragraph 35)
Government Response Summary
The government's response focused on the importance of education exports and soft power strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, including ongoing engagement by the International Education Champion and the development of a Soft Power Strategy. This did not address the committee's specific recommendation regarding digital/cyber technologies with Japan, AUKUS ties, joint exports, or deepening economic security dialogues.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government recognises the importance of education related exports (worth £32.3 billion in 2022), and the significant opportunities for the sector in the Asia-Pacific region, which we are delivering through our International Education Strategy. In support of this the Government has reappointed Professor Sir Steve Smith as International Education Champion. He has undertaken extensive engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, including meeting with the Indonesian President in July, leading a delegation of British Russell Group Universities. Education and creative industry exports are key elements of UK soft power and the Government works closely with the UK Soft Power Council to identify how these can be advanced to drive growth and security. As part of these discussions, Ministers held a roundtable on education and soft power with Council members and external experts on 4 June 2025, the outcomes of which are informing the development of the Soft Power Strategy that this Government has committed to produce. UK embassies have also been instructed to consider how to deploy soft power more purposefully as they develop their business plans.