UK can't ignore China, says Starmer ahead of Beijing trip

Sir Keir Starmer has begun a high-stakes three-day visit to China the first by a British Prime Minister since 2018 vowing to defend a "pragmatic" partnership while navigating a complex "diplomatic tightrope" between trade opportunities and national security.

In an interview with Bloomberg News shortly before his departure, Sir Keir insisted that the UK cannot afford to "stick its head in the sand" and ignore the world's second-largest economy. He rejected the notion that Britain must choose between Beijing and its historic alliance with the United States, despite the increasingly transactional approach of President Donald Trump.

Key Focus: The Economic Push 💼

The Prime Minister arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, accompanied by a delegation of approximately 60 senior business and cultural leaders.

• Senior Ministers: Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Business Secretary Peter Kyle are also on the trip, though they are conducting separate itineraries to maximize engagement with Chinese state-linked companies and provincial leaders.

   

• Corporate Heavyweights: The delegation includes senior executives from HSBC, AstraZeneca, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover, British Airways, Brompton, and the National Theatre.

   

• Trade Milestone: Bilateral trade between the UK and China reached a record $103.7 billion in 2025. The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing has indicated that several "outcome documents" on trade and investment are expected to be signed during the visit.

   
   

The "Embassy Deadlock" Broken 🏛️

The visit follows a significant diplomatic breakthrough. Just days ago, the UK government approved plans for a massive new Chinese "mega-embassy" at the former Royal Mint site in East London.

The project had been stalled for years due to security concerns and local opposition in Tower Hamlets. Its approval is widely seen as the "unblocking" mechanism for the UK’s own £100 million plan to redevelop the British embassy in Beijing, which has been hampered by reciprocal delays from Chinese authorities.

Rights and Security: The Jimmy Lai Case ⚖️

While the focus is heavily on commerce, Sir Keir is under intense pressure from backbenchers and human rights groups to address the fate of Jimmy Lai.

The 78-year-old British citizen and pro-democracy tycoon was found guilty of "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces" in December 2025. He is currently awaiting a sentence that many fear could mean life imprisonment.

• Sir Keir's Response: The PM told reporters on the plane to Beijing that he would "raise issues that need to be raised," adding that engagement is the only way to discuss areas of disagreement.

   

• Wider Concerns: Beyond Hong Kong, NGOs have urged the Prime Minister to address reports of escalating repression in Tibet and the Xinjiang region, as well as recent allegations of a significant Chinese cyber-attack on Downing Street's mobile infrastructure—claims Sir Keir dismissed as having "no evidence."

   

Strategic Risks

Former Foreign Secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt warned that while the visit is necessary, the government must remain "clear-eyed." He cautioned that a primary strategic goal for Beijing is to "prize apart" the special relationship between the UK and the US, particularly as President Trump threatens 100% tariffs on allies who diverge from his trade policies.