Rishi Sunak says: 'China is the greatest national threat to our economic security'; Photo: DANNY LAWSON/PA
The UK's approach to relations with China is «more robust» than most of its allies, Rishi Sunak has said.
The Prime Minister's statement came after he was challenged by members parliament. on the liaison committee regarding the government's response to the Chinese state-sponsored hacking operation.
He told the committee, which includes elected committee chairs, that Chinese cyber hacking is behavior that the UK and its allies «will not tolerate».
Mr Sunak rejected Liam Byrne's proposal. , a Labor MP and chairman of the House Business and Trade Committee, that while other countries acted to protect themselves from China, the UK was simply «thinking about it».
Rising to the challenge , Mr Sunak said: «Our approach to China is certainly more robust than, I would say, that of most of our allies.»
He pointed out that European countries are not removing Huawei equipment from their telecom networks or placing similar restrictions on the export of sensitive technology to China, and said the regime foreign investment in Great Britain was introduced last and therefore most reliable. among other examples.
Mr Sunak said: «The first thing to say is that China represents the greatest national threat to our economic security and… we are seeing behavior that we simply will not tolerate. «Their actions attitudes towards our democracy and the democracies of our allies are deeply troubling, which is why we have recently taken action and will continue to deal forcefully with their behavior. Where we identify risks and threats, experience clearly shows that we will take action.”
Mr Sunak was told the UK had spoken tough about China but failed to take any significant action.
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The Prime Minister said: “I have every confidence that our approach to tackling the risk posed China, in many ways, is consistent with the approach of our allies and in most cases goes further in terms of protecting itself.»
Mr Byrne, who has raised concerns about the influence of Chinese-owned companies such as Bytedance, said in response , that “obviously not.”
The Prime Minister defends the UK's China policy after the Government blamed Beijing for «malicious» cyber attacks on MPs and the Electoral Commission, imposing sanctions on some of those involved.
There are reportedly tensions within the cabinet over the issue, with some ministers pushing for tougher action against Beijing while others resist fears it could harm economic and trade relations.
On Tuesday China's embassy charge d'affaires visited the Foreign Ministry after being formally summoned to answer for his country's actions.
Gillian Keegan says that China poses a clear security threat. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK
The Foreign Office said it issued an «unequivocal condemnation» of the «malicious cyber activity» of Beijing-linked entities, saying it «will not tolerate such threatening activity and will continue to take strong action with partners around the world in response.»
Backbench Conservatives criticized the government's actions, saying it did not go far enough, while others renewed their calls for China to be labeled a «threat».
Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, told Times Radio on Tuesday morning that China poses a «clear security threat» but Downing Street is keen to downplay the possibility that the government might change its language on the country it is currently calling a «landmark» challenge.»
Sir Iain Duncan Smith says Amazon should help people boycott China
Sir Iain Duncan Smith has suggested label Chinese products on Amazon so customers concerned about human rights issues can avoid buying them.
The former Conservative leader said many people want to buy less from China but find it difficult to do so when shopping online because they don't know where the item came from until it is «too late».
He called on the Government to «do more» to tackle the problem as pressure mounts on Mr Sunak to tighten its position towards Beijing. after MPs called his sanctions over cyber attacks “weak” and “pathetic.”
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