Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in China vowing to bring 'stability and clarity' to the UK's approach to Beijing, but a host of contentious issues threaten to undermine his efforts to improve bilateral ties. The visit is the first by a British prime minister in eight years.
Among the thorniest topics is the case of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and former Hong Kong media tycoon recently convicted of national security offences. The UK views the case as politically motivated, and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has demanded his release. Starmer faces pressure to secure Lai's freedom and may also raise the plight of the Uyghur minority in China.
President Xi Jinping is expected to press the prime minister on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. The UK does not recognise Taiwan as a state, and Starmer is likely to tread carefully to avoid derailing trade talks. The government recently approved a new Chinese mega-embassy near the Tower of London, a decision that may provide leverage for the UK's own embassy in Beijing.
National security concerns loom large, with MI5 issuing an espionage alert last November over Chinese attempts to recruit MPs. Starmer has insisted he is 'clear-eyed' about the threat and will raise difficult issues, including China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
