HC Deb 06 November 2000 vol 356 cc5-6W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions during May and June on which representatives of the Chinese armed forces visited the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose, (b) itinerary and (c) cost to his Department of each. [134428]

Mr. Hoon

[holding answer 26 October 2000]: There were three visits to the United Kingdom by representatives of the Chinese armed forces in May and June this year. These were:

  1. 1. A PLA Logistics Delegation of six officers (led by a Major-General) visited the UK between 10–12 May in order to study the logistics organisation in the UK armed forces. The delegation visited the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath, Andover and Yeovilton, and the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol. The costs of the visit were met by the Chinese.
  2. 2. The PLA Air Force Command College visited the UK between 28 May-4 June in order to learn about UK defence policy, the organisation of the RAF and its concept of operations in a joint environment. The delegation consisted of eight college staff (led by a Major-General), twenty-eight students, five interpreters, and eleven aircrew. They visited the MOD in London, RAF Brize Norton, RAF High Wycombe, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Cranwell and BAE Systems in Warton. There were also cultural visits to London and Edinburgh. The cost of the visit to the MOD was approximately £10,000.
  3. 3. General Cao, the Head of the Chinese General Equipment Department, and an accompanying delegation of twelve officers visited the UK between 18–25 June as part of an ongoing programme of senior military visits and ministerial exchanges. The General visited the MOD in London, the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol, the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath, BAE Systems in Farnborough and Warton, and Racal Electronics in Crawley. There were also cultural visits to London and Scotland. The cost of the visit to the MOD was some £15,700.

In addition, a Chinese officer was attending the Royal College for Defence Studies course (which runs from January to December), and another officer was conducting English Language Training at the Defence School of Languages in Beaconsfield between 19 June-8 August. The cost of this training to the MOD was approximately £50,000 and £5,000 respectively.

All of these visits were part of our wider efforts to develop a substantive defence relationship with China through regular balanced and reciprocal engagement in order to promote confidence-building and dispel mistrust.

Defence co-operation forms a key part of the UK's overall strategy of constructive engagement with China, and improving contacts with the Chinese in all areas.