Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signed a landmark agreement with China aimed directly at tackling the small boats crisis in the English Channel. The deal, struck during high-level talks in Beijing, focuses on intelligence sharing and joint law enforcement operations to disrupt the supply chains of criminal people-smuggling gangs.
A Strategic Focus on Engine Supply
The core of the new pact is data sharing on the small boats issue, which the UK government hopes will stem the flow of vessels used for illegal crossings. This move is particularly significant because an estimated 60 per cent of the outboard engines powering these dinghies are manufactured in China. Furthermore, many of the boats themselves are constructed using Chinese-made components.
Targeting the Source of the Problem
The agreement is designed to facilitate direct engagement with Chinese manufacturers to discourage them from supplying criminal networks. It will also cover intelligence sharing on the specific supply routes used by smugglers to acquire engines and boats. "This deal will help us cut off the supply of boats at source - stopping crossings before lives are put at risk and restoring control to our borders," Sir Keir stated following the meeting with President Xi Jinping.
He emphasised the practical benefits of international cooperation, adding, "This is Britain back at the top table, delivering real results for the British people through our international relationships."
Political Pressure and Crossings Data
The deal comes against a backdrop of intense political pressure. The small boats issue was a major factor in the collapse of the previous Conservative government, which failed to deliver on Rishi Sunak's pledge to "stop the boats". Labour, having come to power in 2024 with its own vow to "smash the gangs", has faced a steady increase in crossings.
Official figures reveal that 2025 saw 41,472 people reach the UK via small boat crossings—a number described by the Home Office as "shameful". This was the second-highest annual total on record, surpassed only by the 45,744 crossings in 2022. While the start of 2026 has seen no recorded crossings, authorities attribute this lull primarily to severe winter weather conditions in the Channel, not policy success.
A Broader Diplomatic Thaw
The intelligence-sharing pact was signed during Sir Keir's visit to China, where he called for a "more sophisticated" relationship with Beijing. Before meeting President Xi, the Prime Minister was welcomed by National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji at the Great Hall of the People.
Mr Zhao praised the diplomatic efforts, noting it was "significant" to develop UK-China relations amid a "changing and turbulent international landscape". He said relations were on "the correct track to improvement and development" and acknowledged "positive progress has been made" under Sir Keir's approach.
This new cooperation represents a significant shift in strategy, moving beyond domestic enforcement to target the international supply chain that fuels the Channel crossings crisis. Whether it translates into a sustained reduction in arrivals remains a critical question for the government.
