Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Eleventh Report - UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific
Defence Committee
HC 183
Published 24 October 2023
Recommendations
1
Accepted
Para 19
Set out classified plans for UK response to potential China-Taiwan conflict
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Ministry of Defence
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2
Rejected
Para 24
Assess China under CCP to determine its threat level to national security
Recommendation
The Committee supports the Government’s assessment that China under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is “an epoch-defining and systemic challenge”. China seeks to erode the current rules-based international order by exploiting weaknesses in the system. Rather than looking to act …
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Government Response Summary
The government explicitly disagrees with the need for an assessment to label China, stating it would be impossible, impractical, and unwise to sum up China in one word.
Ministry of Defence
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3
Accepted in Part
Consolidate closer Indo-Pacific military cooperation and basing efforts into one strategy
Recommendation
The UK’s regional military presence in the Indo-Pacific remains limited and the strategy to which it contributes is unclear. This contrasts to both the US—a global and Pacific power—and to France–a more comparable actor to the UK in terms of …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to deepen cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific but rejects publishing a dedicated cross-government strategy, referencing existing strategic documents. It describes ongoing cooperation and existing military presence without committing to increasing or rebalancing resources as requested.
Ministry of Defence
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4
Accepted in Part
Para 58
Set out detailed plan for SSN-AUKUS submarines on cost, skills, and production
Recommendation
We welcome the announcement of the SSN-AUKUS class submarine, including the increased port visits and the Rotational Force, in maintaining a coherent regional presence. The UK must, however, be realistic and cognisant of the significant hurdles for all AUKUS partners …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially rejects the request for a detailed plan on AUKUS submarine costs and numbers, stating these decisions will be made in due course. However, it accepts the recommendation on skills, announcing a Nuclear Skills Taskforce to address workforce development for AUKUS.
Ministry of Defence
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5
Accepted in Part
Para 59
Expand AUKUS Pillar 2 for supply chain security; consider involving other nations
Recommendation
AUKUS offers a tangible opportunity to respond to growing tensions in the Indo- Pacific. Through Pillar 1 AUKUS, the UK can tackle shared challenges together with our allies, with the goal of upholding the rules-based order. Moreover, Pillar 2 offers …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it already monitors supply chains and supports the Critical Minerals Strategy. It commits to engaging with allies on Pillar II as it matures but defers expansion to additional partners as they are not yet in a position to consider it.
Ministry of Defence
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6
Accepted
Para 63
Plan joint exercises with Japanese armed forces and continue science and technology collaboration
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 the Global Combat Air Programme.
Ministry of Defence
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7
Accepted
Para 73
Focus on maximizing military benefit from combined UK-India carrier strike group training
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Ministry of Defence
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8
Accepted
Establish UK as a top-tier defence partner to India through strategic industrial partnerships
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 Group in 2025.
Ministry of Defence
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9
Accepted
Para 80
Further engagement with ASEAN on maritime security and deepen bilateral relationships through exercises
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 training initiatives with Brunei Garrison.
Ministry of Defence
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10
Accepted
Para 88
Strengthen relationship with the Quad through functional engagement in working groups and forums
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Ministry of Defence
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13
Rejected
Create dedicated Indo-Pacific strategy including defence response to China and Tilt aims
Recommendation
The UK Government’s future strategy for the Indo-Pacific is still unclear. The Government should create a dedicated Indo-Pacific strategy, which sets out how military instruments can be used in support of the UK’s wider pursuit of its goals and interests …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the need for a dedicated Indo-Pacific strategy, stating that its vision and strategic intent are already outlined in existing Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper publications.
Ministry of Defence
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Conclusions (2)
11
Conclusion
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?
Government Response 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.
12
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 96
Defence was only a small element of the so-called Indo-Pacific ‘Tilt’ outlined in the 2021 Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper. The result has been a modest increase in UK military presence in the region. This has manifested primarily through increased presence in the region of naval capabilities, and …
Government Response Summary
The government notes the Committee's criticism but rejects the notion that the 'tilt' has not been achieved, stating that Defence has met its ambitions through partnerships, integration, and persistent presence, with the 2025 Carrier Strike Group return building on these achievements.