UK making up policy on China, parliamentary committee warns

The United Kingdom is making up its policy on China as it goes along, according to a report by a parliamentary committee. The Guardian, The Times, and the Somerset County Gazette all reported that the House of Commons business, innovation, science and trade select committee warned the current approach hurts the economy and leaves national security risks unaddressed. [1][2][3]

The investigation concluded that the UK risks having its strategy dictated by Washington or Beijing. The Guardian reported that committee chair Liam Byrne, a Labour MP, stated the lack of a coherent policy since 2024 combined the worst of both worlds and was endangering British business. [1]

China is governed as a unitary one-party socialist republic under the Chinese Communist Party led by Xi Jinping. It represents one of the largest economies in the world by nominal gross domestic product and is the leading merchandise exporter. [5]