Conservative Party, who also believe his pledge to spend an extra 5 billion pounds ($6 billion) on defence is insufficient to support Ukraine without leaving Britain vulnerable.
"What could not be fully foreseen in 2021 was the pace of
the geopolitical change and the extent of its impact on the UK
and our people," Sunak wrote in a foreword to the IR.
"Since then, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,
weaponisation of energy and food supplies and irresponsible
nuclear rhetoric, combined with China’s more aggressive stance
in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, are threatening to
create a world defined by danger, disorder and division."
The update was released as Sunak visited San Diego to agree
the next steps in a defence agreement, AUKUS, with U.S.
President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese
Of Britain's extra defence spending, 3 billion pounds will
go towards nuclear projects, including help for Australia to
build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, part of
efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.
When it was first published in 2021, the Integrated Review
described China as a "systemic competitor".
The updated document said: "China under the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) poses an epoch-defining and
systemicTchallenge with implications for almost every area of
government policy and the everyday lives of British people."
It also included a direct reference to Taiwan which had
previously been absent.
"It has pursued rapid and opaque military modernisation with
huge new investments, militarised disputed islands in the South
China Sea, and refused to renounce the use of force to achieve
its objectives with regard to Taiwan."
While it outlined that Britain would step up its national
security protections, the government said its preference was
for better cooperation and understanding with Beijing,
recognising its economic might.
"But we believe that this will depend on the choices China
makes, and will be made harder if trends towards greater
authoritarianism and assertiveness overseas continue," it said.
Among other measures, Britain has created a National
Protective Security Authority, part of the MI5 intelligence
agency, to help businesses and institutions to fend off state
threats, especially from China.
RUSSIA THREAT While saying tensions in the Indo-Pacific "could have global consequences greater than the conflict in Ukraine", Britain said Russia still remained the most acute threat. "What has changed is that our collective security now is intrinsically linked to the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine," the IR added. Britain and other Western countries have increased their pledges of military aid for Ukraine this year, with promises of tanks and armoured vehicles as well as longer-range weapons.
On the other hand, they have expressed concern at support for Russia being potentially offered by China and Iran.
"China’s deepening partnership with Russia and Russia’s growing cooperation with Iran in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine are two developments of particular concern," the IR said. With Sunak under pressure to do more to help the defence ministry combat inflation and replace weapons sent to Ukraine, two billion pounds will go towards replenishing and increasing conventional stockpiles and investing in munitions infrastructure. "We're sliding towards a new Cold War. Threats are increasing. Yet here we are staying on a peacetime budget," Tobias Ellwood, Conservative lawmaker and Chair of the Defence Committee told parliament. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Britain calls out Russia, China in updated foreign policy review UK approves increased submarine-related exports to Taiwan, risking angering China ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Alistair Smout, William James, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Sarah Young, and Farouq Suleiman; writing by Michael Holden; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Nick Macfie)
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