Tom Tugendhat MBE MP, Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee

As countries around the world struggle to contain the global coronavirus pandemic, concerns and questions over China’s handling of the crisis in the early stages have come to the fore. Tensions have escalated between China and the United States, which has fiercely criticised Beijing’s response, while Australia’s call for an international investigation into the origins and spread of the virus has also drawn Beijing’s ire. A leaked internal report has suggested that Beijing is preparing itself for rising anti-China sentiments led by the US in the aftermath of the pandemic.

In the UK, Tom Tugendhat, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has led a group of Conservative MPs to establish the China Research Group, to “promote debate and fresh thinking about how Britain should respond to the rise of China”. According to the Group, its work will look beyond the immediate coronavirus crisis and issues relating to Huawei to consider longer term challenges, including  China’s industrial policy, platform technologies, and Chinese foreign policy.

In this private briefing with Asia House Corporate Members, Tom Tugendhat will outline the role and ambitions of the China Research Group and discuss the challenges that the UK’s engagement with China bring. Tom will also consider the future of relations with China as the UK seeks to overhaul its approach to foreign policy and reexamine its priorities and objectives through the Integrated Review of foreign policy, defence, security and international development that Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined in February.

Tom Tugendhat is the Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling, and the Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Prior to being elected to Parliament in 2015, Tom served in the British Army until July 2013, serving in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including as the military assistant and principal adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff.  In July 2017, Tom was elected Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

This video briefing is held exclusively for Asia House Corporate Members. To register interest in attending, please contact Edward Danks at edward.danks@asiahouse.co.uk.