The British government on Monday issued an updated security and foreign policy framework document, in which it warns of the implications of the deepening partnership between China and Russia and points out the main risks to the security of the United Kingdom.

"What cannot be fully predicted in 2021 is the pace of geopolitical change and the extent of its impact on Britain and our people," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote in the foreword to the integrated review.

"Since then, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, weaponization of energy and food supplies, and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, along with China's more aggressive stance in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, threaten to create a world of danger, turbulence, and division," he said.

Sunak pointed out that the British Integrated Review, which was first published only two years ago, has been updated to take into account developments.

For his part, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told parliament today, Monday, that China's size and importance make it linked to "almost every global issue."

"We cannot ignore the increasingly aggressive behavior of the Chinese Communist Party, militarily and economically, including stoking tensions in the Taiwan Strait," he added.


Chinese challenge

But the document describes China as a challenge to the world order, stopping short of describing it as a threat, which is likely to disappoint many in Sunak's ruling Conservative Party.

"China under the rule of the Communist Party is a challenge of the times with ramifications for almost every area of ​​government policy and the daily lives of the British people," the document said.

The review indicated that Britain will intensify measures to protect national security and strengthen work with allies, but stressed that London still prefers to improve cooperation and understanding with Beijing.

The document was published in conjunction with Sunak's visit to San Diego, California, to agree on the next steps in a defense agreement described as historic with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Britain will allocate 3 billion pounds ($3.6 billion) of its military spending to nuclear projects, including helping Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, as part of efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region.


Russian danger

But despite warning that tensions in the Indo-Pacific region "could have greater global consequences than the conflict in Ukraine", the British government believes that Russia remains the most serious threat.

"What has changed is that our collective security is now intrinsically linked to the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine," the document says.

She also noted that "China's strengthening of its partnership with Russia and Russia's growing cooperation with Iran in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine are developments of great concern."

Pledges came from Britain and other Western countries to provide military aid to Ukraine this year, with promises to send tanks and armored vehicles, in addition to long-range weapons.

However, members of the ruling Conservative Party believe that Sunak's pledge to increase military spending by 5 billion pounds ($ 6 billion) is not enough to support Ukraine and will leave Britain vulnerable.

As part of the military spending, the British Prime Minister will allocate two billion pounds ($2.4 billion) to replenish and increase stocks of conventional weapons and invest in ammunition infrastructure.

Sunak also expressed his aspiration to increase overall military spending to 2.5% of GDP in the long run.