Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing on a three-day visit aimed at resetting relations with China, which he previously described as being in an “ice age”. The last British prime minister to visit China was Theresa May in 2018, who was advised to dress under the covers due to fears of hidden cameras. Starmer, however, said he did not take such precautions, stating: “I’ve always said that we need to seize the opportunities, mindful of our national security.”
The trip comes after years of tensions, including allegations of Chinese spying on parliament, cyber-attacks, and sanctions on British MPs. The UK government has called China an “epoch-defining challenge”. Despite this, Starmer secured over three hours of talks with President Xi Jinping, a ceremonial welcome, and a lavish banquet. The UK also approved a new Chinese mega-embassy in London, which officials say smoothed the way for the visit.
Tangible outcomes include a visa waiver for British tourists, cuts to whisky tariffs, and 10 agreements described by one official as “jam tomorrow” deals. China also lifted sanctions on six serving British parliamentarians. Starmer raised human rights issues, including the fate of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and the Uyghur community, though it remains unclear if this will have any effect.
However, the trip has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump, who called Starmer’s efforts “very dangerous”. Domestically, Starmer faces political challenges, with leadership speculation at home despite a boost in confidence from the visit. Business Secretary Peter Kyle told a reception: “This trip is just the start” of a “more sophisticated” future relationship.
