Catherine West – 2024 Speech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies

The speech made by Catherine West, the FCDO Indo-Pacific Minister, at India House in London on 25 November 2024.

We know that the Indo-Pacific is crucial for the UK, for three reasons.

Firstly, boosting economic growth, secondly, tackling climate change, and thirdly strengthening national and global security.

And these are shared challenges, where progress is in our mutual interest.

When we won the general election in July this year, we faced a simple choice: how do we demonstrate our long-term commitment to the region?

And we knew there was only one credible answer, and that is to back our words up with action.

Since then, I’ve visited the region four times, covering 10 countries, and the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region in his first three weeks. Of course since then, last week at the G20, [the Prime Minister was] enhancing the relationships and having a deep conversation with Mr Modi.

We have also had ministerial visits to the UK, not least President Prabowo just last week, and indeed David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, was at the inauguration of President Prabowo.

For us, this is a generational mission, a long-term strategic posture, not just a short-term shift for the sake of soundbites.

We want a free and open Indo-Pacific underpinned by the rules-based international system. Because rules matter.

They matter for trade and growth. They matter for good governance, and they matter for our collective security, which also explains why our engagements are guided by four key principles.

To promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, to support growth and create economic opportunities for all, to seize opportunities for clean energy transition, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals while building more resilient economies.

Now, let me give you some concrete examples to show how this approach is making a difference. Let’s start with ASEAN, and it’s wonderful to see so many ASEAN partners here. And could I say thank you to the lovely community which regularly invites the relevant minister to attend the ASEAN committees, graciously hosted by the Singapore High Commission. Thank you for that.

So the [ASEAN] bloc is ahead of the UK as the world’s fifth-largest economy, and our trading relationship is worth almost £50 billion, the UK being ASEAN’s third-largest partner in financial services. But we can and must go further.

As a dialogue partner, we respect ASEAN centrality and we are working in partnership with ASEAN to support the work and priorities of it, whether that’s economic integration, climate and energy, or education, health and women’s peace and security.

I was delighted to be in the Philippines not long ago, speaking about the region of Bangsamoro and the important work that the FCDO is doing there, to be in partnership with others, and really to promote the role of women in security. And I can see this conference is slightly better than others, having a few women dotted here and there.

We support ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific as a positive blueprint for cooperation and progress. We are taking steps to deepen our partnership, with exciting programmes underway on science and technology, creative industries and much more. But working with ASEAN also means collaborating on the difficult issues.

Such as the escalating conflict in Myanmar, where over 18 million people desperately need humanitarian assistance. This poses serious spillover risks in the region. And during a recent visit to Bangladesh, I was able to have in-depth conversations about the desperate need in Cox’s Bazar.

The UK has provided over £150 million in life-saving assistance since the coup in 2021, and we must continue to work together closely to support a more peaceful and stable Myanmar.

Next, let’s look at Japan, and I do welcome our new representative to London, here this morning. Our Global Strategic Partnership is one of the most consequential in the Indo-Pacific.

As the founding member of the CPTPP free trade area, Japan encouraged us to join, and we knew it was in our strategic interests to do so.

Put simply, this partnership established high-quality trade rules and Indonesia’s recent decision to apply for membership is further proof of its significance.

Our Global Strategic Partnership with the Republic of Korea marks a decisive new chapter in our economic and technology relations, and has brought us closer on security.

Despite the distance, the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and Europe-Atlantic are inseparable, a point that has been brought into sharp relief by North Korea’s support for Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

This will directly raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula and undermine regional security in the Indo Pacific. And then of course there’s China, with which this government is taking a strategic approach to co-operate where it is possible to do so, compete where we need to, and challenge strongly where we must.

We will co-operate where we can as fellow permanent members of the UN Security Council, because we cannot address shared global challenges like global net zero, health and growing trade without China.

And we will challenge where we must, to protect our national security and values.

We will improve the UK’s capability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses, through an audit of our partnership as a bilateral and global actor.

Ultimately, we want UK businesses to make the most of the opportunities the second-largest economy in the world offers.

But at the same time, we must be open-eyed about the risks.

The Foreign Secretary was in China last month and I am just back from Hong Kong.

My visit was an opportunity to build on our long-standing friendship, economic and societal links.

Hong Kong’s continued role as an international financial centre presents clear opportunities for UK businesses.

At the same time, imposing the National Security Law did in effect crack down and erode rights and freedoms, and is a breach of the commitments China made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and unfortunately has damaged a sense of vibrancy in Hong Kong.

So we will pursue our economic interests with China and Hong Kong while continuing to speak out when people’s rights and freedoms are under threat.

I did that in my recent statement on the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy activists and former politicians for exercising their fundamental rights.

And I also did it during my visit when I raised detailed concerns about detained British National Jimmy Lai, whose family now reside just a mile away from here.

My key message is that I would like to see a more stable, mature relationship with Hong Kong. And our ambitions should remain bold.

The Prime Minister met with President Xi Jinping at the G20 to deepen our partnership on a range of issues including trade, investment, health, education and other areas of mutual interest.

He reiterated that his approach would always be rooted in the national interests of the UK, but that we would be a predictable and pragmatic partner on our side of the relationship.

In all these engagements we have raised opportunities for collaboration while pushing robustly on areas where we disagree.

Now, let me turn to the key opportunities for collaboration in the region.

We know that we live in a rapidly changing world where the more closely we work, the stronger we are.

This is a world where listening to each other and understanding mutual concerns is what matters most.

So it is in that spirit that we want to collaborate with and learn from countries across this region. But for today let me focus on the three organisers of this event – Singapore, India and Australia.

Firstly, Singapore. Last year, we launched a new Strategic Partnership and earlier this year I visited Singapore. I was delighted to see high ambition matching high potential, building on already high levels of cooperation across sectors – whether that’s economic, defence, climate, or indeed research, technology, and public sector cooperation.

Our Green Economy Framework, which was the first of its kind for the UK, will promote mutual decarbonisation and sustainable investments across the region.

And just this month, the UK and Singapore renewed our Memorandum of Understanding which builds on our longstanding cooperation on security issues. We also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between our AI Safety Institutes to boost collaboration on global safety standards.

And our defence ties, including through the important and unique Five Power Defence Arrangements, are going from strength to strength.

It was a pleasure to host the Singapore Minister for Defence in London last month and I look forward to working in partnership in an ongoing way to deliver flagship events in the New Year, such as the planned port visit of our Carrier Strike Group.

Turning now to India, the fastest growing G20 economy, and the fastest-growing to my heart, following my visit last week.

When they met in Rio, the two Prime Ministers agreed to restart FTA negotiations as soon as possible.

We have consistently said that we see an FTA as the floor and not the ceiling of our ambitions.

When I visited India last week, everyone shared this enthusiasm for mutual collaboration and tackling global problems together.

From exciting higher education opportunities, to cooperation on clean power and climate change. And can I just say how excited I am about Southampton University, the first university to have its own full campus, fully regulated within all of the guidelines, setting up in Delhi, which is the most vibrant and fantastic city.

As the world’s most populous country India has a unique opportunity to help shift the dial and lead progress on climate and sustainable development.

I was delighted to visit Delhi for two days last week to talk about climate, tech, health, education and development, all on the agenda.

My visit also coincided, of course, as people will have read in the papers, with the season where [with] Delhi’s air quality [it] is somewhat difficult to see others in front of you. But having come from a city in London where we have also have had similar problems, there are lots of things we can do together to share best practice and move towards a cleaner climate.

Ultimately, we both share a deep and enduring commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The UK is pleased to be co-leading the Maritime Security Pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

And our naval interactions, following visits by Royal Navy ships and INS Tabar have established a firm basis for joint work in the region. There is significant potential for much closer defence collaboration over the coming years.

And now to Australia, my place of birth. Our partnership is both historic and modern.

It is a unique and enduring bond built on friendship and shared values. A bond underpinned by strong security, prosperity and warmth among our people.

It is more relevant now than ever, as we work together to advance common interests and tackle global challenges. We are close partners on the international stage, sharing a commitment to protecting and promoting the rules-based international order, with AUKUS being a true testament to the strength of our partnership. And I know my colleague Maria Eagle has had in-depth conversations with you about our next steps on AUKUS.

And Australia, like us, and many others, care deeply about the Pacific. We are working together to support our Pacific partners to shape their future through their 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. And we have been supporting them at COP29 in Australia’s request to call for action now against global warming.

I was glad to be at the Pacific Island Forum in Tonga in August. And I congratulate Samoa on hosting such a wonderful CHOGM event – it was so brilliant to see that.

As you may be aware, today happens to be the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls, so I am particularly pleased that our shared commitments on gender equality mean that we can invest in women and girls. Getting more women working, enabling more women, should they choose to, to go up the career ladder within our economies. Estimates show that closing the gender gap could boost the global economy by as much as seven trillion dollars.

The same goes for climate and nature investments where women, indigenous peoples and excluded groups serve as potential benefit multipliers.

Finally, we are also aligning our approach to the Indo-Pacific with close partners to ensure that our offers complement the region’s priorities.

Of course this includes the USA and other G7 members including Canada, France, Germany and the European Union.

The Foreign Secretary agreed with his EU counterparts that working together in the Indo-Pacific should be one of our top priorities for early joint action.

I will be discussing next steps in more detail with European External Action Service Secretary-General Stefano Sannino later this month.

So in conclusion, the UK remains fully committed to the Indo-Pacific.

The region is vital to global growth and security, and we will build and deliver on our reputation as a trusted partner in the long term.

And we will do that through sustained engagements like this, working together on our shared challenges in the spirit of genuine partnership, and I look forward so much to hearing the next steps in this conference. Thank you.