Rishi Sunak is accused of trying to water down a security report on China out of fear of its impact on trade with the country.
Rishi Sunak was accused last night of trying to ‘water down’ an official security report on China in order to boost economic ties with the country.
Whitehall sources said Sunak tried to insert more “ambitious” language on economic ties with Beijing into the latest “Integrated Review” of Britain’s defense and security policy, which was published in 2021.
Sunak, who was chancellor at the time, is said to have been concerned that taking a hostile stance towards China could affect investment and trade, and hurt the UK economy.
A Whitehall source said the Treasury made an offer to change the text at the last minute and inserted a new target that the UK should seek to establish an “ambitious economic relationship” with the communist superpower.
The change was made in a late draft of the document and was only removed after then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson vetoed it as it prepared to go to press.
Rishi Sunak was accused last night of trying to ‘water down’ an official security report on China in order to boost economic ties with the country.
“Treasury tried to water down the Integrated Review at the last minute and almost got away with it,” the source said.
“They wanted to introduce this sentence about pursuing an ambitious economic relationship, which would have totally clashed with warnings about the threat China poses to our values.
We would have been slaughtered by the contradiction if that phrase had been included.
“The proposal came from the Treasury, but it is inconceivable that Rishi did not know and approve it, it was an error of judgment.”
Last night, a government source downplayed the dispute, saying Mr. Sunak had “very little involvement” in the process and would not have personally requested the change.
In a timely intervention this month, Ms Truss said it was time to stop “rolling out the red carpet” for the Chinese government and that the world was “in danger” from the growing threat posed by authoritarian regimes led by Beijing.
The source noted that Sunak has made a series of harsh statements about China in recent months, including calling Beijing “the biggest threat to Britain and the world’s security and prosperity.”
But the Treasury proposal drew protests from then-Commerce Secretary Liz Truss and Dominic Raab, then-foreign secretary and now deputy prime minister.
It was blocked in the final moment by Johnson, who ordered officials to change the word “ambitious” to “positive.”
The final text highlighted the need to improve “our ability to respond to the systemic challenge that China poses to our security, prosperity and values, and those of our allies and partners.”
He continued: “We will continue to pursue a positive investment and trade relationship with China, while ensuring that our national security and values are protected.”
The disclosure will raise fears that a new version of the Integrated Review, currently being prepared by officials, could deal blows to China.
In a timely statement this month, Ms Truss said it was time to stop “rolling out the red carpet” for the Chinese government and that the world was “in danger” from the growing threat posed by authoritarian regimes led by Beijing.
She said: ‘Some people say that dealing with this regime is a futile task, that somehow the rise of a totalitarian China is inevitable. But I reject this fatalism, and the free world has an important role to play in whether and how that happens.’