Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking diplomatic steps to tackle the potential (a) influence and (b) presence of China in the South Atlantic region; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign Secretary laid out our global approach to China in a speech at Mansion House on 25 April. In response to the epoch-defining challenge of China we have a multifaceted approach: to strengthen our national security protections, align and cooperate with our partners, and engage where it is consistent with our interests. We, with international partners, follow Chinese activities in the South Atlantic region and regularly discuss these with interested governments.