Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Lord Lemos Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Grand Committee

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)]

Apparently, I have nine minutes to deal with the whole of the global security situation.

I thank all noble Lords and Ladies who participated in this debate, particularly the noble Baroness, Lady Stuart, for what has turned out to be a very timely debate—I am sure she knew that when she called for it. Ministers like me are told to say it is an honour, and the speeches have all been brilliant. On this occasion it is an honour, and the speeches have all been terrific, so I am deeply grateful for that. I hope I can deal with the specific points that noble Lords have made as we go through, but if I run out of time, I will check Hansard and respond.

As noble Lords will know, the UK is not a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, but we respect each country’s right to choose its own path and its own partners, including which international groupings it associates with. The SCO serves as a platform for China and other member states to promote their interests and project leadership on the international stage—I will say a bit more about that in a moment. Our view is that all countries have the right to initiate new formats for multilateral co-operation.

Following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China hosted its Victory Day parade in Beijing, marking the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Second World War, as the noble Baroness, Lady Stuart, noted. While noting the military dimension of the parade, it is important to clarify that this event was separate to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, and indeed, Prime Minister Modi did not attend. The UK recognises the significance of this anniversary for China and its people and respects their right to commemorate this occasion in their own history.

We will continue to exercise our own agency, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. We remain strongly committed to the international rules-based system, which has supported peace, prosperity and co-operation for decades, and we will continue to encourage and call for China and other responsible members of the SCO to do the same.

The China audit has informed the UK’s consistent, long-term and strategic approach to China. As stated in the Statement made by the former Foreign Secretary, we will never compromise

“on our national security, recognising the complexity of the world as it is, engaging confidently, carefully and pragmatically, and delivering secure growth”.—[Official Report, Commons, 24/6/25; col. 991.]

I know that noble Lords have asked for a very clear statement on our approach to China, but it is true to say that all speakers in this debate have acknowledged that we cannot have a simple or one-dimensional approach to the relationship with China.

I confirm we will continue to co-operate where our interests align, such as on climate change and global health, but we are prepared to challenge China where its actions undermine our values. Sometimes we will also compete with China for global growth opportunities, and we will continue to be vigilant against the full range of cyberspace and other threats from state and non-state actors, including those that emanate from China.

On the parliamentary espionage case, which the noble Lord, Lord Callanan, raised, the Prime Minister said at PMQs yesterday that he had sought legal advice, and he has published the witness statements. The view of the Government remains that we are disappointed that the case did not reach full trial and that that was the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions. As the noble Lord, Lord Callanan, acknowledged, this clearly has some way to go. There will be an Urgent Question on it, I think on Monday, but certainly next week, and noble Lords will have an opportunity on the Floor of the House to continue the discussion on that case.

On the question of China’s embassy application, as I think all noble Lords know, planning is quasi-judicial in nature. The case is before Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministers for decision, and I do not think I should comment further.

The recent SCO summit was striking in its failure to mention Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, drew our attention to some of the tragic consequences there. Instead, the gathering was another example of China using its diplomatic engagement with Russia to reduce Putin’s isolation on the world stage. We consistently challenge China’s and other countries’ political and military support for Russia, which prolongs the war and is not in China’s interest. China remains the essential state in helping Russia continue the war against Ukraine. That is the Government’s view. The UK continues to call on China to use its influence to support peace and stability. That includes urging President Putin to end the war, withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine and respect international law. With regard to the observation by the noble Lord, Lord Bruce, the Government work closely with not only European but G7 partners to make common cause on that.

On the multilateral system, strengthening multilateral institutions, which a number of noble Lords mentioned, to uphold the global consensus against aggression and realise a just and lasting peace in Ukraine with full respect for the UN charter is critical. These groupings, such as the SCO—I think I am coming to the heart of the intentions of the noble Baroness, Lady Stuart, in raising this debate—provide China with a platform to promote alternative norms, often prioritising state sovereignty and non-interference over universal human rights and democratic governance. The noble Lords, Lord Callanan, Lord Skidelsky and Lord Moynihan, referred to that. The UK’s response to these initiatives—this is really the heart of my comments—is to defend and strengthen the institutions that matter and that represent the international consensus, including the institutions that many noble Lords have mentioned, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and to help reform and revitalise them so that they are more inclusive, effective and resilient in responding to global challenges. That was the challenge from the noble Baroness, Lady Stuart, and I think it is important. We welcome China’s support for those institutions in which it is also an active partner. We are actively engaged in efforts to reform and revitalise key institutions through initiatives to reform the United Nations and our work with the multilateral development banks to ensure they are more representative, responsive and effective in addressing today’s global challenges.

I recognise the starting point of the noble Baroness, Lady Stuart, that this is a changed world. China seeks to expand its global influence through the SCO and attempts to reshape the multilateral system to suit its own interests. Our response is clear. We stand firmly behind Ukraine, we defend the multilateral institutions that underpin global stability, and we are renewing bilateral partnerships of the sort that the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, talked about across the global South. We will continue to engage China in a principled and measured way, as many noble Lords have encouraged us to do. We will continue to support the values and institutions that have helped deliver peace and prosperity around the world, and we will do so with confidence and in the spirit of genuine partnership.