As a new Member of Parliament, alongside my domestic policy interests, I have prioritised issues of defence, societal resilience, and the threat posed by hostile actors. This is why I joined the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) early in my tenure. In just five years, IPAC has established itself across 27 legislatures and the European Parliament, providing a vital network for intelligence-sharing and coordinated action.
On Wednesday, 26 March, I led a Westminster Hall debate on UK-China relations, where I set out my concerns about the Labour Government’s approach to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many Hongkongers, Tibetans, Taiwanese, and Uyghur Muslims have settled in Surrey and Hampshire (the counties I represent), and I am in regular dialogue with key constituents and national organisations advocating on these issues.
Since Brexit, the UK has sought to diversify its economic ties. During this period, China became our third-largest trading partner. While this relationship was initially viewed as an opportunity, it is now clear that our deep economic entanglement with an authoritarian regime carries significant risks, particularly in relation to human rights abuses, security threats, and our growing economic dependence on China.
One of the most concerning aspects of this dependence is in renewable energy. The UK’s push towards sustainability has led to an increased reliance on Chinese-made solar panels and electric vehicles — industries with well-documented links to forced labour, particularly in Xinjiang. Over a million Uyghurs are estimated to be detained in the region, yet British supply chains remain entangled with these abuses. This undermines our commitment to human rights and weakens the UK’s moral standing.
Existing measures to prevent slave labour in supply chains are proving ineffective. Without proper enforcement mechanisms, the UK continues to be flooded with products made through forced labour, undermining both our economic resilience and ethical obligations. If we are serious about tackling modern slavery, we must ensure robust enforcement against businesses that profit from these abuses.
Beyond individual industries, China’s Belt and Road Initiative has created a global network of indebtedness, trapping participating nations in economic dependence and subjecting them to Beijing’s influence. This strategy, which extends beyond infrastructure and into strategic sectors like energy and telecommunications, represents a clear attempt to exert control over other nations’ sovereign decision-making. The UK must recognise this for what it is: economic coercion disguised as investment.
Economic entanglement is not the only issue. The UK must also confront China’s expanding influence in our institutions and its transnational repression on British soil.
The construction of a vast Chinese embassy in London — a facility housing 700 “diplomatic staff” — raises significant national security concerns. Despite opposition from the previous Conservative government, it now appears likely to proceed, aided by lobbying from the home secretary, foreign secretary, and even the prime minister. Given past incidents, such as the 2022 attack on Hong Kong protester Bob Chan in Manchester, we must recognise the risks of allowing such a concentrated Chinese diplomatic presence in our capital. The UK should not be facilitating the expansion of CCP surveillance and repression within our own borders.
At the same time, we must ensure that British citizens facing politically motivated persecution abroad receive proper consular support. The continued detention of British citizen Jimmy Lai, the 67-year-old pro-democracy media founder, is a glaring example of the UK government’s failure to stand up to the CCP. I recently met with his son, Sebastien Lai, who reinforced the urgent need for Britain to take decisive action. This is why I am proud to support the Jimmy Lai Bill (Consular Assistance (Journalists) Bill), which is set for its second reading in July. The UK must guarantee consular access to its citizens unjustly imprisoned abroad and challenge China’s blatant violations of international law.
The UK must also resist the temptation to prioritise trade and business ties with Beijing at the expense of defending human rights and national security. The idea that economic engagement can be divorced from security concerns is deeply flawed. Beijing has consistently used trade as a tool of political leverage, punishing countries that criticise its human rights record or foreign policy. If we fail to recognise this pattern, we risk compromising our long-term security for short-term economic gains.
Beyond our borders, China’s growing control over international institutions and its push to dominate emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), demand urgent scrutiny. The CCP’s strategy is clear: it seeks to expand its influence not through fair competition, but through coercion, espionage, and the suppression of democratic ideals.
Attempts to foster AI cooperation with China must be approached with extreme caution. The CCP’s track record in technology development is not one of mutual benefit but of exploitation and surveillance. British businesses and institutions must be wary of entering into partnerships that could see sensitive data and technological advancements fall into the hands of a regime that has no regard for privacy, intellectual property, or democratic freedoms.
I was pleased that my debate brought together Members from across the House in a unified stance against Chinese aggression and oppression on British soil. Colleagues raised critical concerns, including Jimmy Lai’s case, economic dependence, and the unresolved issue of the seven sanctioned Conservative MPs. Contributions from longstanding human rights defenders further strengthened the debate.
Yet, the Labour government continues to take a weak stance. Whether it is the approval of a Chinese mega-embassy, the failure to act on forced labour supply chains, or the refusal to stand up for British citizens unjustly imprisoned, this government has consistently chosen appeasement over action.
The pattern is clear: China is not a benign economic partner. It is a strategic competitor that seeks to undermine our security, values, and global standing. The United States and the European Union have already taken decisive steps to protect their economies and sovereignty. But Britain is lagging behind.
We must wake up. The CCP does not seek partnership; it seeks control. The UK must take urgent steps to decouple from harmful dependencies, strengthen our national security, and reclaim our sovereignty before it is too late. Failure to act now will only deepen our vulnerabilities in the years to come.
Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest news and analysis.
Source: Politics