Response to the UK’s ‘China audit’ (Press Statement)
Press Statement: Conclusion of ‘China Audit’ shows urgent need to de-risk
In response to the announcement that the UK government’s ‘China Audit’ has been concluded, with the results feeding into the National Security Strategy, published today, the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) has issued the below comments:
Andrew Yeh, Executive Director of CSRI, said:
“The Audit confirms the obvious: The UK needs to urgently de-risk from China. From the espionage and sabotage risks linked to Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure to our dependence on China’s supply chains – especially in critical minerals – the UK remains dangerously exposed.”
“Yes, China remains an economic player we must engage with, and there are areas for cooperation. But ‘re-risking’ the relationship now would be a strategic misstep. The UK’s national interest lies in reducing – not deepening – our dependencies.”
“With the Audit over, it’s time to get to work. Securing our infrastructure from grey-zone threats, reducing critical dependencies in our supply chains and countering the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to silence the Chinese and Hong Kong diaspora in the UK – these are just some of the actions that the government must be taking.”
“While the inclusion of the China Audit in the National Security Strategy is welcome, the failure to publish the Audit’s findings in full only undermines the UK’s ability to deliver a coherent China strategy. Ask MI6 and the Treasury what they think about China and you’ll get very different answers.”
Sam Goodman, Senior Policy Director of CSRI, said:
“The China Audit is over, but now the hard work begins for the Government when it comes to producing a coherent and clear-eyed China strategy which guarantees security at home and promotes British interests abroad.”
“It is welcome to see the Audit recognise the need for China capabilities but that needs to be met with plans to bring expertise and lived experience into government. No where does the UK have more of a strategic advantage than in the growing community of Hong Kongers with British passports who have moved to the UK in the last few years and have significant language skills, experience, and connections. Many of whom would be well suited to inject China expertise into the government.”
Notes:
The China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) is a non-partisan think tank working to analyse the strategic risks posed by the rise of the People’s Republic of China across geopolitics, economics and security. It was launched in May 2023 and is based in London. Further information is available on www.csri.global
CSRI’s report, Implementing the UK’s ‘China Audit’, published in October 2024 set out CSRI’s recommendations for the review. A copy is available here.
For further enquiries, please contact hello@csri.global