By Blessing Nweke
Sir Keir Starmer is travelling to Beijing this week, marking the first visit to China by a British prime minister since 2018, as the government seeks to reboot a relationship that has been strained for years. The prime minister is due to meet President Xi Jinping on Thursday, alongside a delegation of around 60 British business and cultural leaders.
Those joining the trip include senior figures from HSBC, pharmaceutical giant GSK, Jaguar Land Rover and the National Theatre, underlining the government’s emphasis on trade, investment and cultural exchange. Downing Street has described the visit as the most significant step yet in its attempt to establish a more “strategic and consistent” approach to Beijing.
The visit, however, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who argue that China’s political system and values make closer engagement risky. Beijing has been accused of committing crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the Xinjiang region, allegations it strongly denies. There is also concern over the case of Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faces a possible life sentence in prison.
Security issues are also looming large. The head of MI5 recently warned that Chinese state espionage poses a daily threat to the UK, adding to scepticism about deepening ties. Asked whether Starmer would raise such concerns, Downing Street said he would “raise challenging issues where interests and values differ”.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Starmer said Britain’s China policy had swung from “Golden Age to Ice Age” and argued that “like it or not, China matters for the UK”. Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Treasury minister Lucy Rigby have joined him, following earlier visits by senior ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The government insists Britain risks becoming an outlier among Western economies, noting recent visits to Beijing by leaders from Canada, France and Germany. After stops in Beijing and Shanghai, Starmer will continue to Tokyo to meet Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi.
Original article
Comments