Sunak finishes by saying the government is bringing British values to the world at a time of change.

He says he is proud of British leadership, on things like climate change and technology, and he says he will deliver on the priorities of the British people.

Sunak says the government has "acted decisively" on improving security, citing action blocking Chinese firms from building the UK's 5G network, nuclear power and semiconductor development.

He says the government set up a new Defending Democracy Taskforce last year, with a mission to "reduce the risk" to British instructions from foreign interference.

Sunak adds that this approach is aligned with all key allies.

Image source, House of Commons

Now dealing with alleged Chinese spying, Sunak says the whole House of Commons is "rightly appalled" at reports of "espionage in this building".

Sunak says he was “emphatic” with Chinese Premier Li at the recent G20 summit that undermining British democracy is “completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated”.

He says he told Li that China should use its position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

Sunak says his most important aim was to deliver on the priorities of the British people and make the most of newfound "Brexit freedoms" to forge new relationships around the word, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP).

He highlights a new strategic partnership made at the G20 with Singapore, and the "warm and productive" discussions with India's leader Narendra Modi on defence, technology and a free trade deal between the UK and India.

Sunak goes on to say the UK will "continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes".

The PM adds the summit showed it is the UK and fellow democracies that have the answers to global issues, rather than authoritarian regimes.

The UK is leading way on calls to "safely harness" new technology to address global issues, he tells MPs.

Sunak also highlights what he describes as Britain's leadership on environmental issues, noting half of the UK's electricity now comes from low carbon sources.

Image source, House of Commons

Sunak says Ukraine “has the right” to export its goods through the Black Sea and “a moral right to ship grain which is feeding the world”.

He says the UK is also monitoring Russian activity in the Black Sea “so we can call them out” if it can be seen that Russia are planning any future attacks.

Later this year the UK will host global food security summit “to put in solutions for the long term”, he adds..

Sunak notes that one missing G20 leader was Russian President Vladimir Putin, who the PM says "lacked the courage to face his peers".

He notes Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal is contributing to rising food prices and has destroyed enough grain in the last month to "feed a million people for a year".

Sunak's says declassified intelligence information shows Russia targeted a civilian ship with "multiple missiles" on 24 August, which he says demonstrates "just how desperate Putin is".

Sunak starts his statement by saying his thoughts are with the victims of the earthquake in Morocco, and pays his respects to the victims of the 9/11 attacks in 2001 on the 22nd anniversary.

He says his aims at the G20 were to increase diplomatic pressure on Russia, to show the world democracies like the UK are "leading the fight" on global development and climate change, and to forge new partnerships to deliver growth for the British people.

Image source, House of Commons

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stepped up to give a statement on his recent trip to India for the G20 summit.

Tory MP Damien Green says he sympathises with the pressure the government is under over balancing China relations from an economic and security perspective.

He asks Dowden for a specific example of how the UK's tougher approach has caused China to change its behaviour.

The deputy PM opens his reply by pushing back on the idea the government "trades off economic security with national security”, adding that the latter always takes precedence.

Dowden adds the government has already blocked Chinese firms from buying UK companies on security grounds.

Tory MP Bob Seely says the western world has its “hands tied” by a growing economic dependency on China.

He warns there is a coming “war in the pacific” if China follows through on its plans to retake Taiwan.

If this happens the west “will not be in a position to do anything about it without collapsing the global economy”, Seely says.

Dowden says the UK is taking a “robust approach” to China, despite economic ties, through the National Security and Investment Act – which allows the government to intervene in any economic activity which “might undermine our resonance and ability to protect ourselves".

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Labour MP Chris Bryant says backbenchers have been the most clearsighted on China, including those who had been sanctioned by Beijing.

"My anxiety is we still flip flop all over the place," he says.

"This year we've seen foreign secretaries... one moment wanting to suck up to China, and the next wanting to have robust words with China."

Bryant asks why the UK has not designated China as a threat to national security.

Dowden says he does not accept the characterisation of the government and says action has been taken, including tech firm Huawei being banned from building the UK’s 5G networks.

But, he says, the UK must engage with China, adding it is not realistic to cut ties with Beijing.

Image source, House of Commons

Tory MP Theresa Villiers says the UK needs "more urgency" in dealing with China, including setting up a registry for known foreign intelligence agents.

She notes such a registry is "now on its way", but asks if it would have been "helpful" had it been in use when the alleged spying took place.

Dowden says the UK has a "very different relationship with China" to even a few years ago, adding it's important the government is "not naive" about the threat and robust in taking action.

Tim Loughton says MPs, like him, who have been sanctioned by China are “on the front line” of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

But no sanctioned MP has been “offered a briefing” on the researcher arrested under espionage rules, the Tory MP complains.

He says there have been “no consequences” for China despite an extensive list of transgressions.

He calls on the government to put China in the “enhanced tier of Foreign Agents Registration Scheme” – which gives the home secretary extra powers to monitor agents working on behalf of a foreign government.

Dowden says they are “currently reviewing” that scheme.

He says he would be happy to “facilitate” a briefing for MPs sanctioned by China.

Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael says the situation is like watching the "horse disappearing behind the horizon, shutting the stable door behind it”.

He then asks: "For once, could we get ahead of the curve here and take action in relation to genomics?"

Dowden in response points out that Carmichael served in the coalition government and in the cabinet from 2010 to 2015, so members of the Lib Dems should bear some responsibility.

“Huge steps have been taken more recently under a majority Conservative government," Dowden adds.

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Former minister Dominic Raab asks Dowden if data around national security prosecutions and convictions will be collated and made available to MPs, so they can "track the scale of hostile state action".

The deputy PM says the government would "seek to do so" if it is possible, but adds he cannot make any "firm commitment" on the issue.

Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Dame Diana Johnson, asks Dowden to tighten up rules around former ministers and government officials joining Chinese companies after they leave office.

The recommendations were made in a report, external by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.

Dowden says a full response to the committee’s report “will be coming shortly”.

But he agrees to talk to Lord Pickles, the head of Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which sets the rules around what jobs ministers and ex-ministers can take.

Iain Duncan Smith says the allegations "should not come as a surprise", pointing to the security committee's warning that the government was ill-prepared for a threat like this.

He asks when the foreign secretary was first told about the investigation - before or after his trip to Beijing? - and if it was beforehand whether he raised the issue with his Chinese counterpart.

He says the problem is what the UK defines China as: "Are they a threat or are they not?"

Dowden responds that the government "does not provide running commentary" on updates and intelligence received.

He says the foreign secretary did raise the issue of interference, and the government has been robust.

Image source, House of Commons

Labour's Kevan Jones says Parliament needs "proper scrutiny" over security.

He asks when the government's response to the Intelligence and Security Committee report on the threat from China is due, as the government have had it for 10 months.

In reply, Dowden says he takes the reports "very seriously" and this is why they will receive a comprehensive response soon - including an update on the "defending democracy taskforce".

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss says reports on spying were ”extremely worrying”.

She says that the UK needs to designate China as the “largest threat” both to the UK and wider world for “freedom and democracy”.

Dowden says Truss is “absolutely right” but stops short of agreeing to change the UK’s relationship with China.

Instead he says the UK will “do whatever steps necessary”.