PM Defies Tory Hawks By Branding China A Challenge Not A Threat

Rishi Sunak has warned that China's plans to "reshape the world order" are an era-defining challenge for Britain, but risked sparking a row with hawks in his own party by slapping down calls for Beijing to be categorised as a threat.

- Aubrey Allegretti

As he flew to a summit designed to shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region, the prime minister heralded a major refresh of the UK's national security strategy and an increase in defence spending.

The moves are meant to curb the influence of China, which Sunak said was becoming "increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad", and bolster Britain's position against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

However, the prime minister looks likely to defy senior Tories - including his predecessor, Liz Truss - who pushed for China to be reclassified as a threat instead of a "systemic challenge".

Before a meeting with the US president, Joe Biden, and Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, Sunak defended backing away from describing China as "the biggest-long-term threat to Britain" during last summer's Tory leadership race.

In comments that risk riling relations with a vocal caucus in the Conservative party of China hawks, the prime minister told reporters as he flew to San Diego: "I don't think it's kind of smart or sophisticated foreign policy to reduce our relationship with China - which, after all, is a country with one and a half billion people, the second biggest economy and member of the UN security council - to just two words.

"That's why, in the integrated review, you will see a very thoughtful and detailed approach to China." Sunak did admit China was the biggest state-based threat "to our economic security", and added it had demonstrated "very different values to ours". "I think it presents an epoch-defining challenge to us and to the global order," he added.