Sunak: More Indo-Pacific Hubris
Britain’s security and prosperity do not revolve around the Malacca Strait
Last night Rishi Sunak abandoned Liz Truss’ pledge to designate China a “threat” to Britain’s national security. That is a welcome change from where both Truss and Boris Johnson were trying to take the UK’s relationship with the emerging superpower.
Because there is a clear and present threat: Russia and its allies, who are committing genocide and war crimes in Ukraine, and who wish to rip up Europe’s security order by force.
In the language of international relations to define a country as a “threat” is an altogether more alarming term than to say it’s a competitor or rival. Threat signals danger, requiring an obligatory reaction in the formation of alliances, the development of soft and hard counter-power.
So Sunak reverted to the language of systemic competition, as outlined in the Integrated Review. He called for “robust pragmatism” in Britain’s dealings with China, saying:
“We recognise China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests; a challenge that grows more acute as it moves towards even greater authoritarianism.”
This is a clash of systems — economic, political and moral — that can be managed through “diplomacy and…
