Defending democracy in a new world

A toolkit of policy options for responding to a more assertive Chinese Communist Party

protests

With a foreword by Alexander Downer, this publication provides a toolbox of policy ideas and aims to spark discussion about some of the different things liberal democracies like Britain can do - either individually, or collectively - in order to encourage the Chinese government to respect the rules-based international order.

Read the full report here.

This report was launched with a panel event featuring Tom Tugendhat MP, Alexander Downer, Nathan Law and Rahima Mahmut. Watch here.


Summary

This paper by the China Research Group is very timely. In a comprehensive way it addresses the single most important geopolitical issue of our time: the rise of China. It helps to provide a menu of options for the British government to consider as it formulates a coherent, consistent and sustainable strategy for managing the China relationship.
— Foreword by Alexander Downer, Australia's foreign minister from 1996-2007

It is widely acknowledged that the increasing economic might of China has big ramifications for geopolitics. While China’s standing as the ‘workshop of the world’ has seen millions lifted out of poverty in the country, its authoritarian government has increasingly trampled on the rights of people in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia amongst others. Criticisms of its actions based on international law or human rights norms is increasingly rebuffed by the Chinese government on grounds of national sovereignty and “internal affairs”. 

Democratic nations have not been proactive in facing this challenge to the rules-based international order. We need to develop incentives and deterrence that correspond to compliance and non-compliance with the rules-based international order. This should include substantive repercussions for incursions on democracy and human rights.

The measures laid out in this report provide the UK and other nations with a policy toolkit of potential responses to counter violations of international universal human rights, in particular in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. These policy tools cover the range of resources needed to address China’s growing economic and political power, and look right across financial services, international law, trade, supply chains, infrastructure investment, information systems and more. 

This paper aims to open up a debate about the options open to the UK and other democracies, so that they can pursue a proactive rather than reactive approach to China.

Key proposals

  1. The formation of a D10 coalition (‘Democracy 10’), of leading democracies to counterbalance and challenge Chinese influence;

  2. The application of sanctions against Listed Persons in the CCP (and entities controlled by them) who are complicit in human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong;

  3. The creation of a Sino-British Joint Declaration Support Package for British Nationals Overseas (BNOs), including an International Legal Aid Defence Fund and a UK government-backed Hong Kong Escrow Scheme;

  4. The creation of a UK Hong Kong Autonomy Act, to authorise sanctions on listed foreign persons and to increase the legal obligations on foreign financial institutions to prevent the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy through the National Security Law;

  5. Application of measures to ensure supply chains are free from slave or child labour from political prisoners and persecuted ethnic minorities in China;

  6. Banning of exports from the UK to China of goods and services that are likely to be used for mass surveillance and human rights violations by the CCP;

  7. Implementation of more stringent checks on the purchase of Chinese hardware and apps to reduce the CCP’s ability to infiltrate UK agencies; 

  8. The creation of clear guidelines for cooperation between UK universities and foreign governments that break international law engaging the liberal and democratic values of the UK;

  9. The creation of mandatory reporting for Chinese companies involved in joint ventures with British companies to disclose information about links with the Chinese government and military.