Tories will declare China a UK security risk as big as Russia and Iran – but only if elected

The Tories have pledged to declare China a risk to UK security on a par with Russia and Iran if they win the election.

In its 2024 manifesto, launched on Tuesday, the party committed to adding China, along with Russia and Iran, to the “enhanced tier” of the UK’s foreign influence registration scheme, meaning all Chinese individuals acting on behalf of the nation would face heightened scrutiny.

It would represent a significant hardening of the Government’s stance on China, effectively categorising it as a hostile state.

The commitment from the Conservatives is a victory for China hawks who have long been lobbying for the change. However, some expressed frustration that the Tories had not taken the decision already, instead opting to make the pledge only when they are widely expected to hand Labour the keys to No 10.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, said the manifesto pledge was a “good start”, but stressed that the party must follow through on its promise.

The two-tiered foreign influence registration scheme is designed to strengthen the resilience of the UK political system against “covert foreign influence” and provide greater assurance around the activities of foreign powers deemed a “national security risk”.

Individuals carrying out “political influence activities” in the UK – such as communicating with ministers, MPs and civil servants – at the direction of nations in the first, less risky category will be required to register with British authorities.

Scheme has lain dormant

The second, “enhanced” tier applies to countries deemed to be a greater threat to the UK. Individuals acting on behalf of these nations would need to register in order to carry out any activities in Britain, political or otherwise.

The scheme was legislated for in the National Security Act in 2023 but has lain dormant while ministers hash out the details, including which countries should fall under each category.

The Tories have been coming under pressure from critics of China to place Beijing in the riskier tier for months. Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, acknowledged in March 2024 that there was a strong case for the move, while declining to give a firm decision.

The UK’s stance on China is a sore spot for Rishi Sunak, who branded the country a threat to Britain during the 2022 Tory leadership contest only to row back once in Downing Street. He opted instead to categorise Beijing as an “epoch defining challenge”.

In its manifesto, the Conservative Party goes further by pledging to add China, Russia and Iran to the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme, which would formally designate all three as a potential risk to Britain’s “safety or interests”.

It states: “We must be prepared to tackle the axis of authoritarian states and hostile actors who are working together to threaten international security. That is why we will include Russia, Iran and China within the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme.”

Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: “This is welcome news and not before time. But if it’s a key policy of the party currently in government, why don’t they do it now? The legal work has already been done by officials.”