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Britain to seek to engage with India to work out a united strategy against China : Boris Johnson

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LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday the UK will prioritize diplomatic engagement with Asian countries in the coming decade, as he unveiled a major shift in the country's foreign policy and defense priorities after Brexit.

Setting out a vision of a "Global Britain," the government's new strategy document envisions the UK "tilting" toward the Indo-Pacific region and becoming a bigger player there as the world's "geopolitical and economic center of gravity" moves east to countries such as China, India and Japan.

Russia remains "the most acute threat to our security," the government said, but the language on China was markedly more muted. While the report acknowledged the risks posed by a more assertive China, and described the country as the "biggest state-based threat to the U.K.'s economic security," Johnson said the UK will continue pursuing a "positive trade and investment relationship" with Beijing.

"There is no question China will pose a great challenge for an open society such as ours," Johnson told the House of Commons. "But we will also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests, including building a stronger and positive economic relationship and in addressing climate change."

As part of the new policy, Britain is applying for partner status in the Association of South East Asian Nations, and Johnson will travel to India next month for his first major international visit since the UK left the European Union.

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will be sent to the region later this year for its first operational deployment.

The review also outlined an overhaul of the UK's defense policies, most notably paving the way for increasing the amount of nuclear warheads Britain has at its disposal to 260. That reverses a decade-long plan to reduce the stockpile to 180.

The document described a deteriorating global security environment, and said a "minimum, credible, independent nuclear deterrent" remains "essential in order to guarantee our security."

Asked about the need to boost the UK's nuclear capabilities, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC that it was "the ultimate insurance policy against the worst threat from hostile states."

Johnson said some longstanding policies will remain the same: Britain would remain "unswervingly committed" to NATO and preserving peace and security in Europe, and the US will remain Britain's most important ally.

Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, said Britain's policies toward China remained as inconsistent as it has been for the past decade - ignoring its rights abuses while inviting the country to invest in British infrastructure such as its telecoms network. He also questioned why Johnson didn't mention the UK's decision to cut international aid spending and its arms export policies.

"If 'Global Britain' is to mean anything, it cannot mean selling arms to Saudi Arabia and cutting aid to Yemen," Starmer said.

Johnson has been facing increasing pressure from his own Conservative Party to take a more assertive stance against China - particularly regarding claims of genocidal policies against the Uighur minority in its Xinjiang region - and several lawmakers criticized Tuesday's review document for not delivering that. Julian Lewis, who chairs the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, described the British government's stance as one of "grasping naivety."

The prime minister stressed that he favored a more "balanced" approach, and warned against a "Cold War mentality" against China. Instead of confrontation, Britain is likely to seek to engage with Asian powers like India to work out a united strategy to deal with Beijing.

The government also said it will make climate change and preserving biodiversity its top international priority over the next decade. The new priorities are the result of a year-long review of Britain's security, defense, international development and foreign policy.

Tuesday's announcement came after Johnson announced in November a 16.5 billion-pound ($23 billion) increase in defense spending over the next four years, focusing on the future battlefields of space and cyber rather than traditional resources such as army troops.

A defense report to be published next week is expected to set up detailed plans to modernize the armed forces, cut around 10,000 troops and reduce the fleet of battle tanks.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...post-brexit-strategy/articleshow/81536381.cms
 
China has its act together and priorities straight, others don’t, even Germany is facing issues within.

China is benefiting from one party rule.

Instead of trying to counter China just getting your house in order will help..
 
India + UK would still be a walk in the park for China.

UK should be neutral, stay out of conflicts and realise it's place in the world now is a small, rich island, nothing more.
 
Britain need to remember that not too long ago the Bihar regiment in Laddakh had to jump from cliff edges and mountains. There was no escape route left.

2 interesting points here though:

1) Britain really scr*w*d chinese during opium wars and brought their Qing dynasty’s down fall. It was like open drug dealing and addiction of masses in china.
2) British military power is diminishing, it no longer has the muscle to enforce anything. Also due to brexit, the whole country will be in turmoil for years to come. So i dont really see Britain being able to dictate anything globally.
 
Bit of a backhanded compliment to China really. If Britain thought India was any sort of rival superpower they would be going to China to form a joint strategy. Still would be nice to revive memories of the old empire where India was the jewel in the crown as it were. We have history.
 
Boris Johnson will visit India at the end of April, making it his first major international trip after Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Mr Johnson had planned a visit to India in January but cancelled it following a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the UK. A Downing Street statement at the time said he hoped to be able to visit India ahead of the UK’s G7 summit in June, which Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is due to attend.

The announcement of the India visit came as Mr Johnson was due to publish the conclusions of his integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy. Downing Street said the review will set out some shifts such as a “tilt” towards the Indo-Pacific.

It was also confirmed that the UK will dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group to the western Pacific.

“This year the Queen Elizabeth Carrier will undertake its first operational deployment to the region, the UK is applying for partner status at the Association of South East Asian nations and at the end of April the Prime Minister will travel to India on his first major international visit following our departure from the EU,” the statement said.

The UK hopes to develop broader trade ties with India as it eyes the prospect of new partnerships now that it is outside the EU - but there are many hurdles still to overcome before any kind of meaningful trade deal can be agreed between London and Delhi.

The UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab visited India in December, and the government said he and India’s foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reviewed progress in their bilateral relations this month.

During his December visit, Mr Raab had said Britain wants to deepen its economic partnership with India. “We are committed to building a stronger defence and security partnership with India that will help us tackle shared issues related to terrorism and maritime security,” he said.

He discussed with Mr Jaishankar an “Enhanced Trade Partnership” which could one day lead to a free trade agreement.

Mr Jaishankar has welcomed the UK’s Indo-Pacific “tilt” and said India will cooperate closely on global issues and in multilateral organisations.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....-johnson-india-visit-brexit-b1817858.html?amp
 
Britain need to remember that not too long ago the Bihar regiment in Laddakh had to jump from cliff edges and mountains. There was no escape route left.

2 interesting points here though:

1) Britain really scr*w*d chinese during opium wars and brought their Qing dynasty’s down fall. It was like open drug dealing and addiction of masses in china.
2) British military power is diminishing, it no longer has the muscle to enforce anything. Also due to brexit, the whole country will be in turmoil for years to come. So i dont really see Britain being able to dictate anything globally.

According to US and Russian reports 30 plus Chinese died.

Pakistan will do well to remember that their Economic condition and their willingness to be a junior partner to China means they hardly have any voice and importance in the matters mentioned in the OP.
 
According to US and Russian reports 30 plus Chinese died.

Pakistan will do well to remember that their Economic condition and their willingness to be a junior partner to China means they hardly have any voice and importance in the matters mentioned in the OP.

Lol so these same reports aren’t true when they say Chinese are sitting in territory which India calls it’s own?
 
India is more than capable of standing on its own two feet to be honest. I don't think they should be willing to be used as a proxy to China and should always remember that China is literally next door while these anti chinese are miles away.
 
Lol so these same reports aren’t true when they say Chinese are sitting in territory which India calls it’s own?

China occupied Indian claimed territories in 1962. Just like India holds Chinese claimed territories.
 
According to US and Russian reports 30 plus Chinese died.

Pakistan will do well to remember that their Economic condition and their willingness to be a junior partner to China means they hardly have any voice and importance in the matters mentioned in the OP.

Links? Ive read this a few times from Indian posters but cant find any info on it.
 
China occupied Indian claimed territories in 1962. Just like India holds Chinese claimed territories.

Some reports from these countries also say China occupied parts of Ladakh last year. They were true?
 
According to US and Russian reports 30 plus Chinese died.

Pakistan will do well to remember that their Economic condition and their willingness to be a junior partner to China means they hardly have any voice and importance in the matters mentioned in the OP.

I only recall seeing the pics of Bihar regiment’s ordeal. Indian media itself reported k Nails wallay nokeelay dunday se pitai huwi thi un ki.

Do you ve any factual proof of the claim that 30 Chinese soldiers died?
 
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