China UK Photo: VCG

The UK has once again invoked a strategy of "checks and balances" against China, as its politicians have begun to hype allegations that Chinese hackers are targeting UK critical infrastructure. This rhetoric, coming ahead of reported visit by the British foreign secretary to China, suggests that London is still grappling with the challenges of formulating a coherent policy toward China, Chinese experts said.

Senior ministers in the UK's Labour government have been informed since taking power in July that hackers linked to Beijing have probably compromised supply chains and computer systems key to a range of vital services, Bloomberg quoted people with direct knowledge of the matter as saying on Tuesday. 

Such Chinese activity is systemic and goes beyond the alleged attacks on Parliament and the Defense Ministry made public in the past year, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss national security matters.

The Bloomberg piece was published after Reuters reported last week that Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy will visit China this week, as the new Labour government seeks less confrontational ties with China and to resume trade and investment talks.

The visit is not yet confirmed by China.

Currently, the UK is pursuing a "balanced" policy toward China under the Labour government. This approach involves engaging with China while also applying pressure on Beijing regarding issues that London believes concern bilateral relations, such as human rights and cybersecurity, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Cui said that hyping the alleged hacker attack is a case in point. This approach is not merely intended to pressure China, it also aims to address the increasing negative elements of the UK's China policy in recent years.

British officials have said they want to recalibrate many of the previous Conservative Party-led government's positions on China, which it described as an "epoch-defining challenge," particularly around accepting Chinese job-creating investment, per Reuters.

The lukewarm relationship between China and the UK has not only hindered bilateral investment but has also muted the UK's voice on the international stage, Cui noted. He emphasized that many problems may remain unresolved without dialogue with China.

Cui noted that since the Labour government took office, it appears to be attempting to recalibrate the UK's China policy. However, given its latest hype on Chinese hackers, the new administration still seems to be struggling to establish a coherent approach to China.