Blitz Bureau
CHINESE spying and attempts by Beijing to undermine Britain’s democracy and economy have risen in recent years, the UK Government has said in a report on the Asian giant., reported AFP. Foreign Minister David Lammy told Parliament that the Government would invest £600 million ($818 million) in its intelligence services as a result of the findings. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commissioned an “audit” of Britain’s relations with Beijing after he swept to power in landslide general election win last July.
The report, published on June 24, recommended high-level engagement with China for a “trade and investment relationship” but also building “resilience” against threats posed by Beijing. “We understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat,” but “not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all”, Lammy told MPs.
“Like our closest allies, we will cooperate where we can and we will challenge where we must,” he said, vowing that meant “never compromising on our national security”. Starmer has vowed to pursue a “consistent” relationship after the previous Conservative government first trumpeted a “golden era” of close diplomatic ties before relations became increasingly strained. The British PM hopes Chinese investment can help him achieve his main mission of firing up Britain’s economy.
But differences over Russia’s war in Ukraine, Beijing’s treatment of Uyghurs and Hong Kong — including the imprisonment of media mogul Jimmy Lai — pose hurdles to repairing relations.
