Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
1
Recommendation
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
The Chinese Government’s wider goal to achieve regional and global dominance— and the increasingly aggressive means by which it is pursuing this—highlight the long-term and strategic threat that China poses to the rules-based international order. It appears that China intends to confront Taiwan, whether by direct military action or ‘grey …
Read more
The Chinese Government’s wider goal to achieve regional and global dominance— and the increasingly aggressive means by which it is pursuing this—highlight the long-term and strategic threat that China poses to the rules-based international order. It appears that China intends to confront Taiwan, whether by direct military action or ‘grey zone’ attacks, in the coming years. Any conflict in Taiwan will have formidable consequences across the globe and risks the international rules-based order. The Government and the UK Armed Forces must ensure that they have plans for the UK’s response—co-ordinated with allies and partners—to a range of actions by China against Taiwan. The Government should set out these plans to the Committee in a classified private briefing.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government confirms it already conducts crisis planning for a wide range of global scenarios and commits to providing the Committee with a private briefing on Defence's crisis planning process.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
6
Recommendation
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
We welcome the Government’s practical efforts in strengthening ties with Japan. Japan is an invaluable ally in the region given its geo-strategic location. As Japan enhances its own defence posture, the UK should build on these valuable commitments to continue strengthening UK–Japan defence cooperation and remain steadfast allies in the …
Read more
We welcome the Government’s practical efforts in strengthening ties with Japan. Japan is an invaluable ally in the region given its geo-strategic location. As Japan enhances its own defence posture, the UK should build on these valuable commitments to continue strengthening UK–Japan defence cooperation and remain steadfast allies in the pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The UK should plan a programme of joint exercises with the Japanese armed forces, and continue collaboration on science and technology programmes as part of the Hiroshima Accord.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to fulfilling the Hiroshima Accord and implementing an ambitious programme of larger, more frequent joint exercises with Japan through the Reciprocal Access Agreement. They also highlight progress on an asset protection mechanism and thriving science and technology collaboration, including …
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
7
Recommendation
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
We recommend that the Government focus on achieving a higher level of military benefit for both the Indian and UK armed forces from combined training carried out when the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group returns to the Indian Ocean as CSG25 in two years’ time.
Read more
We recommend that the Government focus on achieving a higher level of military benefit for both the Indian and UK armed forces from combined training carried out when the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group returns to the Indian Ocean as CSG25 in two years’ time.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and commits to the return of the UK Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, with planning underway to conduct more complex exercises with India to achieve higher military benefit.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
8
Recommendation
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
We welcome the recent actions taken to enhance UK–India defence cooperation through the 2030 UK-India Roadmap. This relationship is critical not only because of the breadth and depth of our existing and potential cooperation, but also due to India’s unique position as a peer to China (in economic terms), whilst …
Read more
We welcome the recent actions taken to enhance UK–India defence cooperation through the 2030 UK-India Roadmap. This relationship is critical not only because of the breadth and depth of our existing and potential cooperation, but also due to India’s unique position as a peer to China (in economic terms), whilst also bordering China, and its non-aligned status. The UK must be a reliable partner to India and continue co-operation on defence initiatives and capability building. The Government should work to establish the UK as a top tier defence partner to India through greater government-to-government coordination, and by creating strategic industrial partnerships to provide greater opportunities for the UK defence industry. This should include supporting efforts by India to reduce its dependency on Russian military equipment. (Paragraph 74) Regional Cooperation
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendations and has established Defence Partnership-India (DP-I) to facilitate greater government-to-government coordination and create strategic industrial partnerships, including supporting India in reducing reliance on Russian equipment. They also commit to improving interoperability and the return of the UK Carrier Strike …
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
9
Recommendation
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
The UK must rekindle its statecraft skills and reaffirm its commitment as a reliable partner to countries in South-East Asia and the Pacific, in order to uphold the international rules-based order, given its proximity to China and the political diversity of the region. The Committee welcomes the 2022 UK-ASEAN Action …
Read more
The UK must rekindle its statecraft skills and reaffirm its commitment as a reliable partner to countries in South-East Asia and the Pacific, in order to uphold the international rules-based order, given its proximity to China and the political diversity of the region. The Committee welcomes the 2022 UK-ASEAN Action Plan as an opportunity for the UK to institutionalise its regional engagement. Although not primarily a defence cooperation mechanism, the UK should further its UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific 41 engagement with ASEAN on maritime security, building resilience in member states, and seek to deepen its bilateral relationships with these countries through capacity- building exercises. In parallel with this, the UK should continue to strengthen and build productive relationships with South-East Asian states and the Pacific Islands.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, agreeing to deepen relationships and defence engagement with ASEAN and Pacific Islands. Specific actions include formally applying to ADMM+, pursuing ship-rider agreements with Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, renewing a naval MOU with the US Coastguard, and conducting various …
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
10
Recommendation
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
It is imperative that the UK strengthens its partnerships with regional allies to maintain and deliver a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. AUKUS, ASEAN and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad) serve different, but valuable, purposes in achieving regional security and stability, in line with the UK’s …
Read more
It is imperative that the UK strengthens its partnerships with regional allies to maintain and deliver a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. AUKUS, ASEAN and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad) serve different, but valuable, purposes in achieving regional security and stability, in line with the UK’s vision for the region. The UK should not consider seeking membership of the Quad in the short term. The UK should approach its relationship with the Quad incrementally whilst monitoring how the forum and its priorities develop in the coming years. The UK should seek to strengthen its relationship with the Quad through functional engagement in specific working groups and by participating in the more formal Quad- plus engagement groups.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government supports the committee's recommendation not to seek Quad membership in the short term, agreeing to instead strengthen its relationship through bilateral and multilateral functional engagement with individual Quad members and by exploring options for "Quad Plus" engagement groups.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
11
Conclusion
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the In…
Accepted
Long-standing membership of the Five Power Defence Arrangements offers opportunities for the UK to lead the defence conversation, alongside Australia, in engaging with smaller non-aligned nations in the Indo-Pacific, whilst noting the strategic sensitivities for some of those nations. (Paragraph 91) What next for the Tilt?
Read more
Long-standing membership of the Five Power Defence Arrangements offers opportunities for the UK to lead the defence conversation, alongside Australia, in engaging with smaller non-aligned nations in the Indo-Pacific, whilst noting the strategic sensitivities for some of those nations. (Paragraph 91) What next for the Tilt?
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government outlines its existing strong commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements, highlighting current efforts where the UK is already taking a leading role in shaping regional security, such as encouraging defensive cyber and incorporating non-military challenges into planning.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence