Committees

Committee launch inquiry on Indo-Pacific

1 February 2022

The Defence Committee inquiry focuses on the importance of the Indo-Pacific to the UK, exploring the UK’s political, diplomatic, economic and operational interests in the region. The Committee will discuss the UK’s relationship with the region, including the benefits of closer defence co-operation with ASEAN nations and our current defence engagements with key regional allies.

The inquiry examines AUKUS, its impact on the UK’s engagement in the region, as well as the defence supply chain and UK resilience. The Committee will review progress on the goals set out by the Defence Command Paper and Integrated Review.

The Committee is asking for written submissions by Friday 4 March 2022.

Chair's comment

Chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said:

“The Government has touted the ‘tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ as key to its vision of ‘Global Britain’. Numerous Government papers, including the Defence Command Paper and the Integrated Review, have reinforced our commitment to strengthening engagement in the region.

“Strategy papers are all well and good, but the Government must start consistently delivering on its vision. Our inquiry will examine whether the UK Government is making good on its promises to forge a new era for the UK.

“The Indo-Pacific region is of huge strategic importance for the UK. As the world becomes an increasingly unpredictable and volatile place, strong relationships in the region will help us weather the years ahead.”

The Committee welcomes evidence on the following:

  • Why is the Indo-Pacific important to the UK? What are its political, diplomatic, economic and operational interests in the region?
  • What progress has been made on the goals for UK Defence as part of the Indo-Pacific Tilt as set out in the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper?
  • What impact has the Carrier Strike Group deployment had in the region?
  • Are the goals set out (for UK Defence as part of the Indo-Pacific Tilt) in the Defence Command Paper appropriate and achievable?
  • Should the UK Government have additional goals or aspirations for UK Defence in the region, such as taking part in the Quad?
  • Who are the UK’s key regional allies and how effective are UK Defence’s current engagements attempts and future engagement plans both in terms of operational and non-operational areas (such as science and technology)?
  • What is the benefit of closer defence co-operation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states and how can this best be achieved?
  • Does the UK need bases in the region?
  • What challenges are there for UK Defence in its Indo-Pacific tilt, both in terms of achieving its goals and operating in the region?
  • How could the UK develop alliances with partners in the region, for example through the Quad partnership?
  • What progress has there been following the announcement of AUKUS?
  • What impact has the AUKUS agreement had on the UK’s engagement in the region and with wider allies and partners?
  • What does AUKUS mean for UK defence industry and for UK supply chain resilience?
  • How could the success (or failure) of AUKUS best be measured?
  • How will the UK manage or balance resourcing, in particular deployment of personnel and capabilities, the tilt to the region alongside NATO and other commitments?

Further information

Image: Ministry of Defence/© Crown Copyright 2014/OGL (Open Government License)