China as a Key Issue in UK Prime Minister Election... Sunak Calls It "The Greatest Threat of This Century"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] In the UK’s Conservative Party leadership election, diplomacy toward China has rapidly emerged as a key issue. On the 24th (local time), the Financial Times (FT) reported that Rishi Sunak, a leading Indian-origin elite candidate and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Liz Truss, a hardline Brexiteer and Foreign Secretary, are engaged in a heated debate over China diplomacy.

Former Chancellor Sunak described China as "the greatest threat to UK and global security and prosperity this century," and proposed a series of measures to reduce China’s influence, including closing the UK branches of Confucius Institutes. He also pledged to use a new national security law to protect UK tech startups from Chinese investment and to leverage a new international alliance to counter China’s cyber threats.

Truss shares a similar stance. Branding herself as a 'foreign policy hawk' during her campaign, Foreign Secretary Truss claims she will take a tougher stance on China than former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. She criticized Sunak for showing a softer attitude toward China and noted that until recently, he planned to resume UK-China economic and financial meetings for the first time since 2019.

The two candidates are competing to gain the support of approximately 160,000 Conservative Party members, and the new Conservative Party leader who will become the next Prime Minister will be announced on September 5 after voting.

During the campaign, before the China diplomacy debate, a policy dispute flared up over 'immigration policy.' Former Chancellor Sunak hinted at limiting the number of immigrants entering the UK to escape war and persecution, while Foreign Secretary Truss emphasized attempts to negotiate more with third countries to process asylum applications. Truss’s camp also pointed out that Sunak’s plan to accommodate immigrants on cruise ships instead of hotels violates international law.

The two candidates are scheduled for their first televised debate hosted by the BBC on the 25th. It is expected that they will debate not only inflation and recession issues caused by the war but also China diplomacy and immigration matters at this event.