China no. 1 threat to security: Sunak

Proposes To Shut Confucius Institutes In UK, Plan ‘Nato-Style’ Cooperation To Tackle Chinese Cyber Threats; Truss Has Accused Him Of Being Soft On China

London: Britain’s two prime ministerial contenders were set Monday to go head-to-head for the first time in a televised debate after a weekend of tough talking on China. In response to criticism by Conservative leadership favourite Liz Truss, rival Rishi Sunak announced plans to crack down on Beijing’s influence, calling it the “number one threat” to domestic and global security.

China’s state-run Global Times has previously said former finance minister Sunak was the only candidate in the contest with “a clear and pragmatic view on developing UKChina ties”. Daily Mail newspaper, which has come out for foreign secretary Truss in the race to succeed Boris Johnson, called that “the endorsement that nobody wanted”.