UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to China to mend ties and diversify Britain’s economic partnerships as relations with the U.S. grow more uncertain.
Summary:
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Starmer makes first UK PM visit to China since 2018
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Trip aims to reset ties and boost trade and investment
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Visit comes amid strains with the U.S. under Trump
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UK–China trade worth about £100bn annually
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Critics question whether engagement delivers real gains
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is travelling to China this week on the first visit by a British leader since 2018, seeking to repair relations with the world’s second-largest economy while reducing Britain’s reliance on an increasingly unpredictable United States, according to Reuters.
The three-day visit comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment, with tensions flaring between London and Washington following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of Greenland. Starmer will be accompanied by two ministers and dozens of business leaders, meeting Chinese officials in Beijing before travelling to Shanghai and making a brief stop in Japan.
Analysts say the visit reflects a recalibration in UK foreign policy. Kerry Brown said discussions are likely to focus on how both sides interpret Washington’s current posture, noting that Britain may now find itself closer to Beijing than the U.S. on certain global issues, including artificial intelligence, public health and climate policy.
Since taking office in 2024, Starmer has prioritised resetting ties with China after relations deteriorated under previous governments over Hong Kong, espionage allegations and cyber security concerns. The trip also gives Beijing an opportunity to court another U.S. ally grappling with Trump’s volatile trade policies, following a recent visit by Canada’s prime minister.
Britain hopes improved economic ties with China will support growth and investment, with bilateral trade worth roughly £100bn in the year to mid-2025. However, critics argue engagement has so far delivered limited economic gains, with China accounting for just 0.2% of UK foreign direct investment, compared with about one-third from the United States.
Starmer has sought to balance engagement with caution, acknowledging national security risks while arguing that closer business ties remain in Britain’s national interest. His government recently approved plans for a large Chinese embassy in London, a decision that has drawn criticism from lawmakers concerned about security implications.
