Britain Moves to Label Xi Jinping’s China a “Threat” in Strategic Policy Shift

October 11, 2022 — London

By Uyghur Times Correspondent

Britain is preparing to designate the People’s Republic of China under President Xi Jinping as an official security threat in a major revision of the United Kingdom’s foreign and defence policy, according to senior British officials and media reports, according to reports by the Guardian.

Under Prime Minister Liz Truss, Britain is moving to update its strategic outlook toward Beijing, shifting from the previous government’s more measured description of China as a “systemic competitor” toward stronger language that would bring China’s designation closer to that of Russia, currently regarded as Britain’s most acute threat.

The decision follows a sequence of tensions in UK–China relations in recent years. Since the Integrated Review of March 2021, which described China as a systemic challenge to British security, technology and economic stability, Beijing’s assertive actions — including cyber espionage concerns and aggressive technological development — have heightened anxiety among British politicians and intelligence officials.

Britain’s Spy Chief Flags China’s Systemic Risk

Sir Jeremy Fleming, head of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), has warned that China’s expansion in cutting-edge technologies, cyber capabilities, and digital infrastructure could pose serious risks to Western security. In remarks ahead of a security lecture, Fleming emphasized that China’s technological push — from satellite systems to digital financial networks — could be used not only for economic competition but also for influence and control in ways that threaten open democratic systems.

He cautioned that China sees technology as a strategic tool, potentially allowing Beijing to monitor, influence or undermine critical systems in other countries. Fleming’s statements underlined why parts of the UK government are pushing for a more definitive threat assessment of China in official doctrine.

Political Voices Urge Stronger Stance

Senior Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, running to be chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said it is time for Britain to acknowledge the seriousness of China’s challenge. “It is time we stopped messing around and recognised that China poses a threat to the way we live our lives, and it is time now to treat them in the same way we treat Russia,” Duncan Smith told The Guardian.

These remarks reflect broader concerns among some British lawmakers that Beijing’s global influence — including economic leverage, political interference, and human rights violations — requires firmer diplomatic and security responses.

Broader Context in UK–China Relations

Britain’s approach to China has already been shaped by multiple policy decisions in recent years:

• In the 2021 Integrated Review, Beijing was described as a systemic challenge — particularly in economic security — while Russia was identified as the most acute threat.
• The UK government banned certain Chinese technology suppliers from its 5G networks, citing national security concerns.
• Pro-democracy demonstrations by Hong Kong activists in the UK have occasionally led to tensions with Chinese diplomats, illustrating sustained community passions on issues tied to Chinese policies abroad.
• In March 2021, a group of British MPs, including Duncan Smith, formally declared China’s treatment of Uyghurs in uyghur region to constitute genocide, marking one of the firmest parliamentary condemnations of Beijing’s human rights record.

Despite its security concerns, the UK also maintains economic links with China: Beijing is among Britain’s largest trading partners, and British universities host significant numbers of Chinese students.

What “Threat” Might Mean

If the new strategic review formally names China a threat, several diplomatic and security implications could follow:

• Stronger counter-espionage and cyber defences against Chinese intelligence operations.
• Elevated scrutiny of Chinese investments or state-linked business activities in the UK.
• Expanded cooperation with allies, such as the United States and European partners, on common security concerns related to China.

However, officials have not yet detailed how the designation will be defined, how it would affect existing economic ties, or whether it would lead to new sanctions or restrictions beyond current measures.