National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015

14 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015
partner” of the UK. 50 51 Although the NSS & SDSR 2015 mentioned China and cyber
security once in the same paragraph, it did so to highlight co-operation between the two
countries. 52 In short, it highlighted the economic possibilities and marginalised the risks.
30. The overwhelmingly positive assessment of China set out in the NSS & SDSR 2015
may undermine the UK’s global standing and reputation among its allies. The nature of
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK in October 2015 reportedly concerned
the UK’s allies. The Financial Times stated that
Britain’s traditional allies regard this behaviour as bizarre at best and craven
and dangerous at worst … A senior adviser to US policymakers described the
UK as “the only place where China is truly influential right now because they
are so desperate for Chinese investment.” … One senior western intelligence
officer commented: “The most charitable spin we can put on the current China
policy of the British government is to say it is a pure mercantilist, unprincipled,
self-serving decision aimed at attracting short-term investment. The big
question is whether it actually works.” 53
31. The position on China set out in the NSS & SDSR 2015 contradicted the weight attached
throughout the same document to promoting “core British values”, such as democracy, the
rule of law, accountable government and institutions, human rights, freedom of speech,
property rights and equality of opportunity. The NSS & SDSR 2015 repeatedly described
those “core British values” as a “golden thread” that engenders security and prosperity. 54
32. We asked the National Security Adviser to comment on the imbalanced analysis
of the UK’s relationship with China in the NSS & SDSR 2015. He assured us that the
National Security Council discussed not only the economic partnership but all aspects of
the bilateral relationship:
the National Security Council has discussed China twice since the election [in
May 2015], and of course all those issues were discussed in the course of those
meetings. [The NSS & SDSR 2015 …] highlights the fact that one of the four
threats or challenges we face is state-based threats … The South China sea was
an issue before the document was produced, and it is taken into account in the
document. 55
50 HM Government, National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015: A Secure and
Prosperous United Kingdom, Cm 9161, November 2015, para 5.71
51 The UK’s security interests in the Asia-Pacific are also formalised in the multilateral Five Power Defence Arrangements,
agreed in 1971 with Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. This series of multilateral treaties commits the
five parties to consult each other immediately in the event or threat of an attack on Singapore or Malaysia to decide
what measures should be taken jointly or separately in response. It does not commit the UK (or any of the parties)
to military intervention. Malaysia and China have asserted rival claims over territory in the South China Sea.
52 HM Government, National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015: A Secure and
Prosperous United Kingdom, Cm 9161, November 2015, para 5.74
53 “Britain’s red-carpet welcome for Xi baffles traditional allies”, The Financial Times, 18 October 2015
54 HM Government, National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015: A Secure and
Prosperous United Kingdom, Cm 9161, November 2015, para 1.6
55 Oral evidence taken on 1 February 2016, HC (2015–16) 644, Q22