Labour’s stance on China prioritises ‘politeness over security’

A cross-party committee of MPs has concluded that the Labour government's policy towards China prioritises diplomatic "politeness over security," putting the UK's national security at risk. The Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee's report highlighted that the government's stance on China has led to a lack of consistency and clear rules on trade and information sharing.

The committee recommended a traffic-light system for trade relations, restricting matters related to resilience and defence from China. They also called for stricter guidelines on certain sectors, such as AI and semiconductor companies, and a ban on imports of goods made using forced labour. Labour's Liam Byrne, who chairs the committee, expressed disappointment at the government's "lack of urgency" in addressing the issue and criticized the government for "making up its China policy as it goes along."

The report warned that China's increasingly sophisticated connected technology, including smart homes and connected vehicles, poses risks to UK security by potentially allowing hackers or state actors to remotely control or disable such devices and exfiltrate UK data to Chinese servers. The government defended its approach, stating that it aimed for a "more stable, balanced, long-term footing" based on a clear-eyed assessment of opportunities and risks.

However, the report criticized the government's failure to translate its priorities into clear policies and rules, leaving businesses and institutions uncertain about the future of UK-China relations.