Britain Warns Against Russian-Chinese Policy

Britain has described China as a challenge to the global order in an update to its foreign policy framework, which stated that the country's security depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that "the comprehensive British review, issued for the first time in two years, has been updated to reflect events, with a stronger tone and positions towards Beijing and Moscow." However, the decision not to label China as a threat is likely to disappoint many in Sunak's ruling Conservative Party, who also believe that his pledge to increase defense spending by five billion pounds (six billion dollars) is inadequate to support Ukraine and will leave Britain vulnerable. Sunak wrote in the introduction to the comprehensive review, "What was not fully predictable in 2021 was the pace of geopolitical change and its impact on Britain and our people." He added, "Since then, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the weaponization of energy and food supplies, irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, along with China's more aggressive stance in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, threaten to create a world characterized by danger, disruption, and division."