This is an important point. For a number of reasons. It is also one of very few foreign policy areas in the UK in which major parties are almost indistinguishable in their positions. Personally I think the report does a splendid job at providing context to this question. Thread: https://twitter.com/sophgaston/status/1361963596473921536

1. Debating an issue is a good thing. In the years of Brexit and Covid, the visceral changes in perceptions is a powerful reminder that public opinion understands what they can relate to. Debates over 5G, pandemic origins, over where cloths are made all shaped the China question.

2. Part of a general trend. The findings confirm in a more granular and national fashion a general trend, as Pew had noted before, but remarkably in the UK this is happening at a time of fears over economic prospects. Harder China policy here to stay? https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/10/06/unfavorable-views-of-china-reach-historic-highs-in-many-countries/

3. Anti-China or Sino-phobic? The reports sets the context for an important point: the perceived problem is with the policies of the PRC, not with the Chinese people. This is a fundamental question that needs to be emphasised constantly. ‘China’ as a challenge, isn’t Sino-phobia.

4. A world beyond China. It’s remarkable that whilst the EU remains perceived as the closest partner for the UK, little depth exists around the rest of Asia, beyond China. Hence, an incredible opportunity: why not to focus to understand and engage it, in a positive FP debate?

5. So- this China question is likely to stay. The report suggests as much. But that’s why we need to quickly understand that without the flip side of that coin, the positive agenda of engaging the rest of Asia, we might very well fail in addressing this China challenge.