Dame Priti Patel has issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to cancel his planned visit to China this week. The former Home Secretary has claimed that the trip puts the United Kingdom's national security at significant risk, arguing that Sir Keir is approaching Beijing "on his knees" rather than from a position of strength.
A Position of Weakness
In a strongly worded intervention, Dame Priti accused the Prime Minister of "kowtowing" to the Chinese regime instead of standing up for British interests. She called for Sir Keir to confront Beijing on critical issues including cyber-attacks, espionage activities, and the case of Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who was recently found guilty of colluding against the Chinese government.
"Keir Starmer, having done terrible things to this country's economy, is now jetting off to Beijing because he wants to secure a trade deal," Dame Priti stated during an interview. "I don't think he should. We already have economic ties with China. We have trade taking place."
Security Concerns Amplified
The controversial trip comes just days after the Government approved Beijing's plans for a 'super embassy' in London located near sensitive communications cables. This development has raised serious security concerns among intelligence officials and political figures alike.
Dame Priti's warnings echo those of Sir John Sawers, the former head of MI6 and former UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who recently described China as a "much more dangerous threat" to the UK than the United States. Sir John emphasised that while American technology presents challenges, China represents a far greater risk to national security.
"Whatever our reservations are about the US, China is a much more dangerous country to be partnering with," Sir John told Times Radio. "Certainly, it poses a continued threat to our national security and we can't rely on China for high-tech services."
Intelligence Community Warnings
Last week, Britain's domestic intelligence agencies publicly acknowledged they cannot eliminate all risks associated with the new Chinese embassy complex. In a published letter to the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum and GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler admitted that "for the site, as with any foreign embassy on UK soil, it is not realistic to expect to be able wholly to eliminate each and every potential risk."
Broader Diplomatic Context
The China visit controversy unfolds against a complex diplomatic backdrop. Sir Keir Starmer's government recently faced challenges regarding the Chagos Islands deal, which would have surrendered the territory to Mauritius. The agreement collapsed after former US President Donald Trump criticised it as an "act of great stupidity," with Labour conceding the deal would be impossible without the US scrapping a 60-year-old treaty.
Dame Priti Patel emphasised that the Prime Minister should focus on fundamental security issues before pursuing trade agreements. "I say to Keir Starmer, get a grip of those fundamental issues before we start jetting off to try to line pockets and do so-called trade deals, because this is simply not good enough," she told Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.
"He's putting the national security of our country at risk. He's already put the economy in jeopardy. Everyone can see that, and they can feel that. But standing up for your country and going to China from a position of strength is what he should be doing. Currently, he's on his knees and he's going there in a position of weakness."
This will be the first visit by a UK prime minister to China since Theresa May's trip in 2018. Sir Keir will travel to Beijing with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and a business delegation aiming to boost trade relations, despite the mounting security concerns and political criticism surrounding the diplomatic mission.
