Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his visit to China, dismissing claims from the Conservative Party that he was outmanoeuvred by Beijing. Speaking from Beijing, Starmer said the trip was about 'seizing opportunities while mindful of national security', after the Tories accused him of being 'played' by the Chinese government.
Starmer is the first British prime minister to visit China since Theresa May in 2018. The trip aimed to thaw what Starmer called the 'ice age' in UK-China relations, which have been strained by allegations of Chinese espionage, cyber-attacks, and sanctions on British MPs. Despite the tensions, Starmer secured a visa waiver for British citizens, cuts to whisky tariffs, and 10 bilateral agreements described by officials as 'jam tomorrow' deals.
The prime minister also raised human rights concerns, including the case of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uyghur community. In a notable breakthrough, China lifted sanctions on six British parliamentarians. Starmer had over three hours of talks with President Xi Jinping, following the UK's approval of a new Chinese mega-embassy in London.
However, the trip has drawn criticism from both the Conservatives and US President Donald Trump, who called Starmer's approach 'very dangerous'. Domestically, Starmer faces ongoing leadership speculation and policy challenges, with his team acknowledging that his international effectiveness contrasts with his domestic perception. The prime minister returns to Westminster on Monday.
