Russia and China threaten to create global ‘danger and disorder’, Britain says

According to EURACTIV, Britain cast China as representing an “epoch-defining challenge” to the world order in an update to its foreign policy framework and also said the United Kingdom’s security hinged on the outcome of the Ukraine war.

The refresh of Britain’s blueprint for security and international policy, published on Monday (13 March), warned of China’s deepening partnership with Russia and Moscow’s growing cooperation with Iran following the invasion of Ukraine.

The Integrated Review (IR) hardened the language and positioning towards Beijing and Moscow from the first edition two years ago.

But the decision to still not describe China as a threat was likely to disappoint many in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party, who also believe his pledge to spend an extra 5 billion pounds (€5.67 billion) on defence is insufficient to support Ukraine without leaving Britain vulnerable.

“What could not be fully foreseen in 2021 was the pace of the geopolitical change and the extent of its impact on the UK and our people,” Sunak wrote in a foreword to the IR.

“Since then, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, weaponisation of energy and food supplies and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, combined with China’s more aggressive stance in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, are threatening to create a world defined by danger, disorder and division.”

The update was released as Sunak visited San Diego to agree the next steps in a defence agreement, AUKUS, with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Of Britain’s extra defence spending, 3 billion pounds will go towards nuclear projects, including help for Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, part of efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.

The updated document said: “China under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses an epoch-defining and systemic challenge with implications for almost every area of government policy and the everyday lives of British people.”

While saying tensions in the Indo-Pacific “could have global consequences greater than the conflict in Ukraine”, Britain said Russia still remained the most acute threat.

“What has changed is that our collective security now is intrinsically linked to the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine,” the IR added.