Defence Committee examines threat from China
On Tuesday afternoon from 2.30pm, the Defence Committee holds an evidence starting its inquiry into the Indo-Pacific by examining the threat from China and its wider role in the region.
The Committee will question a panel of witnesses including Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation, at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Prof Alessio Patalano from the department of War Studies, King’s College London, and Prof Steve Tsang, Director of the China Institute at SOAS.
Likely areas of questioning
The session will examine China’s modernisation of its military. The session will also hear about different ‘flashpoints’ in the Indo-Pacific region such as the straits of Taiwan and the India-China border. Given the UK’s tilt to the region, the session will also explore China’s ambitions in the region and the various different alliances and agreements that the UK could seek to align with.
The Committee will also ask questions concerning the modernised Chinese military and its capabilities, the growing Chinese defence industry developments (including Science and Technology developments), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the UK’s relationship with it, and the Quad and its role in security in the region.