Several factors have contributed to the worsening of relations. Firstly, the hardening of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) rule over China, including efforts to exert greater control over Hong Kong, and alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang. These in turn have led to strong criticism by the UK, including the imposition of sanctions. China subsequently retaliated with its own sanctions with several British MPs and peers targeted.
Secondly, the adoption by China of more forceful rhetoric and more expansive foreign policies. These have led to assessments by the UK Government in its 2021 strategic review of defence and security that China is a “systemic competitor”, and that the that China represents the “greatest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security”.
Thirdly, the UK’s intelligence and security services have warned that China is increasing its espionage and cyber operations, in particular seeking to gain sensitive commercial information. These efforts are in part motivated by China’s efforts to become a world-leader in emerging technologies, encapsulated by its Made in China 2025 industrial strategy.
