https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe...end-against-china-russia-20200211-p53zjg.html London: One of Britain's leading national security think tanks says the UK must develop the capability to push back against China and Russian political warfare and be prepared for competition without end. Britain must contend with Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May.Credit:AP The report Taking Control: Rediscovering the Centrality of National Interest in UK Foreign and Security Policy by Malcolm Chalmers from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) warns the UK needs to develop its own military capability to conduct operations without the United States, because of Donald Trump's nationalist America First posture. Professor Chalmers' report says China and Russia's behaviour shows the West must give up on the "illusion" that the rest of the world is set on a path of Westernisation and suggests the UK adopt a post-Brexit foreign policy much in line with Australia's approach to guarding against Chinese interference. And it echoes calls by prominent Liberal MP and Chair of Parliament's Intelligence and Security committee Andrew Hastie who has called for the West to wage its own political warfare, to protect democracy. Professor Chalmers said the "unacceptability of major war" had caused Russia and China to turn to other "more sophisticated" and "harder to counter" means of "subversion and 'fake news', espionage, cyber attack and intellectual property theft." Chalmers said sectors which were once viewed "purely through a liberal economic lens" now involved security dimensions, requiring domestic government departments to take the lead over the foreign affairs department in developing a "new set of tools". "Some of the most difficult potential security threats now require policy responses using instruments – such as telecommunications regulation, foreign investment screening and student visa approval – that have previously been viewed purely through a liberal economic lens." Australia has banned Chinese telecommunications supplier Huawei from its broadband and 5G infrastructure, tightened its foreign investment rules for critical infrastructure, introduced foreign interference laws and established a taskforce to combat Chinese influence in universities. By contrast, non-residents can buy property in the UK and the Conservative government is permitting Huawei to supply up to 35 per cent of its 5G network despite classifying the Chinese vendor as "high-risk". It has also greenlighted Chinese investment in the UK's new nuclear power station and the potential to have a hand in running future plants. Johnson's Huawei approval angered US President Donald Trump, Australia and sparked a rebellion within the Conservative party because under Chinese law, Huawei can be forced to carry out espionage operations on behalf of Beijing. Chalmers did not name Huawei in his report but said the UK's policy toward Russia and China needs to be based on an "awareness of the risks of undue dependence on competitors for key technological resources, and a readiness (and ability) to push back strongly when threatened." He said growing public anxiety about increasing security threats, including terrorism, had contributed to the Brexit vote. "It would be wrong to see the UK’s societal malaise as being only economic in character," he said. "There is growing concern at the ability of rival states (especially Russia and China) to threaten the UK’s critical national infrastructure through cyberattacks and sabotage." Chalmers also argued that the UK must develop the military capability to carry out its own military operations without the US, because of Donald Trump's nationalist, America First posture.