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Truss and China: opening a new war front?
Completely at odds with her free-market fundamentalism, our new PM is committed to classifying China as a military threat at the cost of economic ties — but will this ideologically driven stance be tolerated by businesses or indeed, British workers, asks JENNY CLEGG

LIZ TRUSS, in her first international speech as prime minister at the UN, called on the G7 and “like-minded countries” to join together to limit the influence of “authoritarian aggressors.” Meeting with President Joe Biden later, she clarified her plans “to ensure Britain is fully equipped to tackle the evolving challenge from countries like China and Russia.”

Truss talks of “refreshing” the Integrated Review, which outlines British priorities in diplomacy and defence over the coming decade, to elevate the designation of China in particular from “systemic competitor” to an “acute threat” on a par with Russia.

It is clear she brings to her new role as head of government an extreme hawkishness and a highly ideological world view.

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