Key facts
- The committee said the government had re-engaged with Beijing without establishing the rules of the relationship.
- The report cited the last-minute blocking of Chinese firm Ming Yang's wind turbine factory in Scotland.
- The committee recommended red zones off-limits to Chinese trade and green zones where trade is permitted.
- The government rejected the report and said it disagreed with its conclusion.
- Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat called the report damning and said Labour was allowing Beijing to dictate terms.
A committee of MPs accused the UK government of prioritizing diplomatic politeness with China over national security, in a 102-page report published on October 14, 2026. The Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee said the government had re-engaged with Beijing without establishing the rules of the relationship.
The committee said the government's decisions on China had been marked by reactivity, inconsistency and opacity. It cited the last-minute blocking of plans by Chinese firm Ming Yang to build a wind turbine factory in Scotland over security concerns, and warned that sensitive data and technologies were being transferred and that supply chains had become dependent on China.
Liam Byrne, the committee's chair, said businesses could not plan while the government kept making up its China policy as it went along. The report recommended designating red zones off-limits to Chinese trade and investment, green zones where trade is permitted, and preparing a tariff regime for use if China refuses to rebalance its economy or offer reciprocal market access.
The government rejected the report and said it disagreed with its conclusion. Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat described the report as damning and said Labour was allowing Beijing to dictate terms.