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China has been omitted to track “secret foreign influences” from the top tier of the UK government’s new register as it seeks to restructure relations with Beijing in order to pursue growth.
The UK’s new Foreign Impact Registration Scheme (FIRS) comes into effect on Tuesday and is designed to provide greater assurances to the UK public regarding the activities of foreign forces deemed to pose national security risks.
According to the British government, Russian and Iranian states are placed at the highest level due to “the serious threat they pose to our interests.”
Under the “Political Tier,” those involved in lobbying on behalf of foreign power in the UK, including Westminster, must identify themselves. In most cases, entries will be available in the public register.
The tougher “strengthened class” applies to foreign forces that are thought to pose a risk to the UK’s “security or interests” and covers a much broader range of activities.
This upper tier requires registration by individuals of UK activities in the direction of a specified power or entity. Designated foreign power-controlled entities must register their activities in the UK.
Conservatives had called for China to be added to the registry strengthening class, which was established in 2023 as part of the National Security Act. The UK’s relationship with Beijing has recently been subject to official “audits” by the Labour Government.
In an audit last week, the government said “Chinese spies, interference in our democracy and weakening our economic security are on the rise.”
The Financial Times revealed in February that UK security services were participating in a review of the growth role of China’s energy systems in the UK’s energy systems amid concerns about Beijing’s impact on strategic national infrastructure.
Prime Minister Rachel Reeves, left, Bank of England and Governor Andrew Bailey (second left) was one of the delegations of Beijing’s bankers in January ©Bloomberg
British officials said there has been “a long-standing debate” over whether China should be at the top, but “there is no immediate plan” to add China and other countries to the list.
The Chinese Embassy in London did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Government officials said that bankers were delegated to Beijing in January, exploring close ties across various financial services led to China’s opposition to inclusion in the “strengthened tier” of the new register.
Reeves, along with business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, had argued that inclusion of Chinese citizens in the plan would hinder business relations with the country. However, confirmation that Beijing is not in the strengthened tier, especially in the opposition Conservative Party, has angered the Chinese Hawks.
Registration is roughly modelled under the US Foreign Agent Registration Act. The introduction of the scheme was delayed as Prime Minister Kiel tackled the question of whether to include China at a more severe level.
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Former conservative leader and Chinese hawk Sir Ian Duncan Smith said separating Beijing from the strengthened population was a “big mistake.”
He said China supported Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, supported Iran, committed human rights abuses in the New Jiang region of the northwest, ripping Hong Kong’s civil rights apart.
Luke de Palford of China’s Inter-Parliamentary Alliance, a group of lawmakers in the international parliament, said it would make no sense for the country to be excluded from the upper tier.
“FIRS is the latest victim of UK China policy. The scheme designed to address state threats does not include our biggest state threats.
The Home Office said the register would introduce “a new layer of accountability for activities that have political influence.”
British Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the UK government would not tolerate secret attempts to manipulate political systems or society.
“Designating Russia and Iran under the strengthened layer is an important step to protecting the UK’s security and interests,” he said.
