Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

China: Assessment of Threat Level

Tuesday 28 October 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government takes robust measures to ensure security through various means.
  • The planning process is independent and follows its established procedures.
  • National security is always the first priority in UK's relations with China.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Foreign Affairs
Context

MP references the former Foreign Secretary's detailed assessment of threats from China, including espionage and cyber-attacks. He also mentions concerns about a Chinese super-embassy application that the current Foreign Secretary previously supported without raising security issues.

Question

What assessment has she made of the level of threat China poses to UK interests? In her former role, the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Planning Inspectorate raising no objections to the Chinese super-embassy application. She did not mention any concerns about secret basements or proximity to key data cables in London. Does she now regret this previous lack of action?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

The Government takes robust measures to ensure security through various means. The planning process is independent and follows its established procedures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Regret over previous actions regarding the super-embassy application

How: Changing Subject

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Q2 Tony Vaughan Lab Folkestone and Hythe
Foreign Affairs
Context

MP discusses the necessity of prioritising national security in UK-China relations while acknowledging opportunities for economic engagement.

Question

When it comes to UK’s relations with China, it is not a simple binary choice between national security and growth—national security must always be our non-negotiable red line—but subject to that, does the Foreign Secretary agree that when there are specific sectors where economic engagement with China promotes growth, we should be open to that?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

We already have substantial trade and investment with China. We remain a trading nation working globally but national security is always the first priority. Security threats are taken seriously.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Priti Patel Con Witham
Foreign Affairs
Context

MP questions the Foreign Secretary about recent threats from China regarding the embassy application, a spy case, and Taiwan. She also asks if there have been meetings with Chinese officials to discuss these issues.

Question

Speaking of challenging China, will the Foreign Secretary comment on recent threats made by the Chinese Government towards Britain over the embassy application, the spy case and Taiwan? Has China requested that the spy case be dropped, and will she now apologise for backing the embassy application?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

We are clear about our position towards China. The planning process in the UK is independent and involves normal procedures. Security measures are taken seriously. I am frustrated about the collapsed spy case but supported strengthening laws to make prosecutions easier.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Regret or apology for backing embassy application

How: Changing Subject

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