Watchdog: UK ‘dragging its heels’ on China threat

Geraldine Scott - Assistant Political Editor

Britain must stop “dragging its heels” over whether to add China to the top tier of its threat regime, parliament’s intelligence watchdog has warned.

In its annual report the intelligence and security committee (ISC), comprising senior MPs and peers, flagged several areas of the National Security Act where there are “unresolved issues”. The foreign influence registration scheme (Firs) came into force in July and requires anyone carrying out “political influence activities” on behalf of a foreign power to register with the government or face prosecution.

Russia and Iran are on the enhanced tier, which requires anyone working for those states to declare any activity, not just political work. Adding China would mean that people working in the UK under Beijing’s instruction would need to register with the government.

“Given the extent of the threat posed by China (as identified in the committee’s 2023 China report), and particularly that of its interference operations, we are concerned to see the government dragging its heels on this decision,” the committee wrote.

The report acknowledged that “dexterity” is required to “balance the tension between security and prosperity”.

It said, however, that the committee had previously found the government “reluctant to prioritise security considerations” when it came to China. It said: “The government should swiftly come to a decision on whether to add China to the enhanced tier of the Firs. This committee should be provided with a full account of how that decision was arrived at, including the factors that were considered, to ensure that security concerns have not been overlooked in favour of economic considerations.”

Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said that the decision was under “very close review” when he was asked in the Commons this month why China had not been placed in the top tier.

The ISC said that a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in July, its first with a prime minister for more than ten years, marked a “very positive reset” in its relationship with the government. The ISC also reiterated its longstanding call for reform of the Official Secrets Act.

A government spokesman said: “This government is taking a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and challenge where we must.”

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