Truss Will Challenge Sunak To Brand China As A 'Threat'

Fears ex-PM could antagonise Beijing in speech in Taipei

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Liz Truss will pile pressure on Rishi Sunak to designate China a "threat" to national security during a speech in Taiwan that could antagonise Beijing and potentially complicate the government's cautious approach to China.

The former prime minister, who is trying to revive her career after she spent just 49 days in Downing Street, will challenge her successor to follow through on language he used in last summer's Conservative Party leadership contest, when he branded China the "biggest threat" facing Britain. Mr Sunak also promised to close Beijing's 30 Confucius Institutes in the UK, which promote Chinese culture to students.

In her speech later today, Ms Truss is set to say: "Last summer, the now British prime minister described China as 'the biggest long-term threat to Britain' and said the Confucius Institutes should be closed. He was right, and we need to see those policies enacted urgently. The UK's Integrated Review needs to be amended to state clearly that China is a threat.