UK Turns to China as Western Alliance Fractures Under US Pressure

On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embarked on his first trip to China since 2018 in an effort to deepen commercial and political ties with Beijing as relationships between the United States and Western nations grow more tense.

Starmer, whose stance on China has drawn criticism from certain British and American lawmakers, stated that while Britain must continue to be watchful for possible security risks, it cannot afford to overlook the prospects offered by the second-largest economy in the world.

“It doesn’t make sense to stick our head in the ground and bury it in the sand when it comes to China, it’s in our interests to engage,” he stated to reporters during the flight. “It’s going to be a really important trip for us and we’ll make some real progress.”

Starmer will meet with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping on Thursday while traveling with a delegation of over fifty business leaders. On Friday, he will go to Shanghai to have discussions with local CEOs.

After years of intense hostility over Beijing’s suppression of political freedoms in Hong Kong, China’s backing of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine, and claims by British intelligence services that China routinely spies on politicians and officials, the visit may signal a change in relations between Britain and China.

In an era of world chaos, the visit gives China an opportunity to present itself as a dependable and stable ally.
In an effort to protect themselves against the unpredictability of the United States under President Donald Trump, Europe and other Western nations have engaged in a frenzy of diplomacy with China.

Starmer’s visit comes after tensions with Trump over his threats to take Greenland, his criticism of Britain’s agreement to give Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, which includes an island with a U.S.-UK air base, and his remarks that NATO allies stayed out of front-line combat during the war in Afghanistan.

Trump threatened to levy a 100% tariff on Canadian goods on Saturday if Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, did not sign a trade agreement with China.

The UK leader maintained that because of his nation’s long history of strong collaboration with the US, Britain could continue to deepen commercial ties with China without upsetting Trump.