UK's Tilt Towards the Indo-Pacific Flashcards
(27 cards)
How can the tilt to the Indo-Pacific be explained by Realism? (in terms of sovereignty and in terms of China)
Realism sees states ruthlessly pursuing power and a state’s own self interest, rather than a collective good. As such, the UK acted to retrieve its sovereignty from the EU, and has prioritised the Indo-Pacific as a future area for growth by pivoting here.
It is also seeking to balance against China alongside the US, seen in its securing of the sea lanes and trade routes.
What is the Indo-Pacific?
The Indo-Pacific as an area was intellectually returned to by ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. This characterised littoral states, such as Australia, Japan, India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, etc. Those states around the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Characterise the UK’s relationship with China both before and after Brexit
Before: The Cameron-Osbourne partnership announced a ‘golden age’ of UK-China relations, keen to build up economic partnerships
After: Brexit decoupled the UK from Europe and moved the US to being the UK’s largest single trading partner. This meant that the UK and US became closer, cooling relations with China to it now being seen as a systemic threat.
What security arrangements exist between the UK and the Indo-Pacific?
- 5 Eyes: Intelligence sharing between UK, US, AUS, NZ and Canada (Anglosphere)
- AUKUS: sharing of nuclear submarine technology with Australia by UK and US, providing greater nuclear capabilities to Australia as a neighbour of China.
What economic reasons were there for the UK’s Indo-Pacific Tilt?
After Brexit, the UK hoped to diversify its economic and trading relationships, hoping to open relationships with emerging economies that have exciting prospects for economic growth.
What security reasons were there for the UK’s Indo-Pacific Tilt?
The UK will be hoping to secure freedom of navigation in vital sea lanes around disputed territory. 60% of global maritime trade flows through the Indo-Pacific, and pinch points exist here including the Taiwan Strait, SCS, East China Sea, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Hormuz.
How is the UK’s stance on China seen to have influenced the Indo-Pacific tilt?
The UK was seen to have become more anti-China in tone under the previous Conservative government. There are now concerns over security and the integration of China into the economy, as well as a desire to have a stronger military presence in the region to balance against China.
How can liberalism be seen to explain the UK’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific?
Liberalism can explain the tilt to the Indo-Pacific as it comprises an attempt to cooperate with a different and broader range of international partners. It attempts to maintain strong ties with Europe, yet prioritises agreements in the UK’s ‘old backyard’ rather than in its immediate geography.
How can constructivism and the role of identity be said to explain the tilt to the Indo-Pacific?
The UK’s attempt to construct its FP as one of a ‘Global Britain’ shows an elite project of hyperglobalism, wanting to be seen as a small, nimble, buccaneering nation on the world stage. From this identity, the policies of the UK flow.
What prospects are there of the new Labour government staying focussed on the Indo-Pacific?
The Starmer government has seemed more focussed on Euro-Atlantic security than that in the I-P, as well as on tackling domestic social and economic concerns than on international issues. This being said, a change in approach has occurred over China, where Chancellor Reeves has been attempting to drum up support for investment in the UK.
How did the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh update the UK’s view of China?
The 2023 Integrated Review Refresh saw China not as a systemic competitor, but as an epoch-defining challenge.
What are the advantages of the UK’s policy towards the Indo-Pacific according to Nilsson-Wright (2023)?
Nilsson-Wright (2023) argues the strength of the UK’s Indo-Pacific policy is that it is flexible, not rooted in one place excessively. It is pragmatic and varied. Furthermore, it has formed new alliances, showing flexibility. Bilateral ties have been secured across the I-P, while the UK has also become an ASEAN dialogue partner.
What are the challenges of the UK’s policy towards the Indo-Pacific according to Nilsson-Wright (2023)?
The UK is believed to have significant capacity constraints moving into this new policy. To be the largest European contributor to Euro-Atlantic security while also being a presence in the I-P will be problematic. It may be more appropriate to focus on the immediate vicinity. Also, aid budget cuts are ceding power to other nations who will fill the gap, such as China.
How does Nilsson-Wright characterise the UK’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific?
Nilsson-Wright argues that the UK’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific is episodic, unstructured and overstretched.
What do Breslin and Burnham (2023) see as being the main drivers of the UK’s Indo-Pacific policy?
Breslin and Burnham see scepticism of China being the main driving force behind the UK’s I-P policy. China is seen as aiming to end the ‘rules-based’ international order, and that ties should be weakened with China as a result.
What reasons are there behind UK concerns over China?
- Human rights in Xinjiang
- a threat to the existing international order
- issues over Huawei involvement in the UK’s telecoms infrastructure (driven by the US)
What is the importance of soft power to the UK’s Indo-Pacific policy? How does this complement another country’s hard power?
Soft power is seen as being the main focus of the UK’s influence in the I-P, given its lack of military heft. Through soft power and influence, it is hoping to shape an intl order of the future, containing China, doing so alongside the US’ hard power dominance.
What does Martin Kettle argue the UK’s status is and what its focus should be on internationally?
Martin Kettle argues that Britain is not a superpower, merely an important one. It is not an Asian or Pacific Power, and it needs to rescue its international reputation from the legacies of Empire and Brexit.
How can Brexit be seen to have undermined the UK and its attempt to tilt towards the Indo-Pacific according to Wong (2023)?
Wong argues that Brexit has undermined the UK’s ability to negotiate internationally - it has meant that the UK’s dependency on the US has increased and has forced it to strategically align with US interests. This has constrained its possible policies towards China.
How does Wilkins (2024) characterise the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt?
Wilkins sees the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt as a movement, a motion, but not as a strategy! It is a rhetorical vision that lacks coherent policy substance.
What % of maritime trade passes through the Indo-Pacific Sea Lanes?
60% of maritime trade passes through the Indo-Pacific
How did the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh begin to reverse the UK’s policy towards the Indo-Pacific?
The 2023 Refresh accounted for the fact that Ukraine had changed the geopolitical and security situations, thus the UK’s main security and defence priorities would remain the Euro-Atlantic area.
What does the recently agreed Indian trade deal secure?
This trade deal cuts certain taxes on imports to the UK from India and allows easier exporting of particular goods to India.
How many people are in the UK’s standing army? What issues are there with this?
The UK’s standing army has been downsized to only 73,000 people, the lowest since the 18th Century. This means there will likely be issues of overstretch if the UK aims to be a major security actor in the I-P as well as in the Euro-Atlantic.
