14 Tuesday May 17 2022 | the times
News
Britain’s trade and aid policies will be
combined to tackle the influence of
“malign actors” in strategically impor-
tant parts of the world, ministers said.
In an attempt to align the govern-
ment’s development policy with its pol-
itical priorities, ministers said that they
wanted to give countries an “honest
alternative” to doing business with
states such as China.
An overseas development strategy
launched yesterday focuses on so-
called “aid for trade”, a tactic used by
China to extend its global influence.
The strategy attempts to replicate
and challenge China’s approach to sup-
porting developing countries by fund-
ing large infrastructure projects while
requiring governments to financially
and politically tie themselves to Beijing.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP/GETTY IMAGESThe NHS has become “dangerously
over-reliant” on China and Beijing
could “weaponise” medicine by cutting
off supplies, an investigation has found.
Nearly one in six vital medical items
used in British hospitals, including oxy-
gen, bandages and needles, come from
China at a cost of £6.2 billion a year.
‘Aid for trade’ strategy to
replicate Beijing’s tactics
British agreements would come with
a pledge that countries would not be
saddled with unsustainable debt with
strings attached.
The Foreign Office denied the plans
were about providing tied aid or aid in
return for trade. Liz Truss, the foreign
secretary, said that while the UK would
not “mirror their malign tactics”, it
would “match them in our resolve to
provide an alternative”.
The Times understands that the strat-
egy is intended to provide an alter-
native for countries seeking infrastruc-
ture investment. This will include the
creation of a scheme to boost trade with
60 countries.
The strategy outlines how the UK’s
aid budget would focus on govern-
ments rather than agencies such as the
UN. The plan says that by 2025 three
quarters of aid spending will be done ona bilateral basis, up from almost 66 per
cent in 2020. It says that investment will
target fragile states or where there are
“compelling trade opportunities”.
But it accepts that it is necessary to
return spending to 0.7 per cent of gross
national income, after it was cut to
0.5 per cent last year.
Truss said: “Our strategy will deepen
economic, security and development
ties globally, while delivering growth in
the UK and partner countries.”
The Henry Jackson Society think
tank said the new direction would
strengthen the UK globally.
But Stephanie Draper, chief execu-
tive at Bond, which represents NGOs,
said: “Though this strategy contains
some positive elements, it seems largely
driven by short-term political and eco-
nomic interests rather than the attempt
to tackle the causes of global crises.”Geraldine Scott Political Reporter
That’s a wrap A sari made from recycled plastic and featuring images from the
Commonwealth has been designed by the performing arts company Nutkhut
and students at Arts University Bournemouth for the Queen's Platinum JubileeNHS safety fears over Chinese imports
NHS dependence on Chinese im-
ports has tripled since 2019 after it went
“cap in hand” to Beijing during the pan-
demic, researchers at the think tank
Civitas found.
Security experts said this opened the
door to China “switching off critical
supplies” in future geo-political spats,
with potentially deadly consequences.
They are calling for an “NHS SecurityAct” to ensure that Britain weans itself
off Chinese medical items and boosts
domestic manufacturing. The Civitas
team looked at 228 medical items on the
government’s disaster relief list, and
found that 17 per cent came from China,
up from 6 per cent before the pandemic.
Britain relies on Chinese supply chains
for 78 per cent of bandages and 45 per
cent of bedside monitors.Eleanor Hayward Health Correspondent