Cold War With China ‘Betrayal’ of National Interest: UK Foreign Secretary

Cleverly criticised for "foreign policy naivety"

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly delivers a speech during the Easter Banquet at Mansion House in London on April 25, 2023. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a major policy speech on Tuesday that it would be a mistake to declare a new Cold War with China.

It comes six weeks after the UK published its updated foreign and defence policy strategy, labelling China an “epoch-defining challenge.”