(Nov 18): Keir Starmer pushed for “respectful” UK relations with China, even as he raised frictions including over sanctioned parliamentarians and the trial in Hong Kong of former media mogul Jimmy Lai in the first meeting between a British premier and President Xi Jinping in almost seven years.
“A strong UK-China relationship is important for both of our countries and for the broader international community,” Starmer told Xi as the two men met at the Group of 20 summit in Brazil on Monday. “The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law.”
Labour’s Starmer is pursuing a thaw in the relationship with the world’s second-biggest economy as he seeks to drive economic growth domestically in the wake of his landslide electoral win in July. But there are dangers in that approach, not least because it puts him at odds with the hawkish stance of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs as high as 60% on goods from China when he takes office in January.
“Given the size of the economy, it is very important that we have a pragmatic and serious relationship,” Starmer told reporters on the plane to Brazil on Sunday, noting that China is “one of our biggest trading partners,” and promising to hold “pragmatic” discussions with Xi.
In talks with Xi, Starmer proposed a bilateral with premier Li Qiang — China’s second-highest ranking official — in Beijing or London, as well as a meeting between Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Vice Premier He Lifeng “for the upcoming economic financial dialog early next year to explore more investment projects and a more level playing field to help our businesses.”
Xi, for his part, told Starmer the two nations have “broad space” for cooperation including on trade, investment and clean technology, according to translated remarks. They should “break new ground in the China-UK relationship”, he said.
The UK has endured sluggish growth in recent years and data last week showed a slowdown since Labour took office, adding pressure on the government to improve the economy. China was the UK’s fifth-biggest trading partner in the year through the end of June, a relationship valued at £88 billion (RM496.08 billion).
Starmer has emphasised the need for pragmatism in dealings with China, noting that cooperation is important on global issues including climate change, security and economic stability, while also “challenging where necessary.”
On Monday, he brought up Chinese sanctions on British lawmakers as well as disagreements over Taiwan and Hong Kong, and concerns about human rights. He also told Xi the UK is “concerned” about reports of Lai’s “deterioration”.
As he mentioned those points of tension, Chinese officials stood up and ordered British journalists out of the room. The event was closely controlled by the Chinese — a reminder that mending the relationship won’t be easy.
A Hong Kong court is due to sentence dozens of former democracy advocates in Hong Kong’s largest national security trial on Tuesday, a move likely to further deter dissent and attract condemnation from Western governments.
The trial of Lai — founder of one of the finance hub’s most popular tabloids, Apple Daily — is due to resume on Wednesday. Also charged with security crimes, he’s essentially standing trial for acts of self-expression once openly permitted in the former British colony.
Disagreements over the security legislation in Hong Kong, allegations from British officials that Chinese state actors have been responsible for cyberattacks on the UK’s military, critical infrastructure and electoral database, as well as China’s sanctioning of several British lawmakers who’ve made human rights complaints against Beijing, have all contributed to a deterioration in UK-China ties since former premier David Cameron’s efforts about a decade ago to foster a so-called golden era in the relationship.
Starmer’s Labour Party, in power since July, is conducting an audit of the relationship and appears determined to secure a closer dialog, which the prime minister is justifying by linking it to his core election pledge to turn Britain into the fastest growing economy among Group of Seven nations. He’s the first UK premier to meet Xi since Theresa May in early 2018.
“We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed, and avoid surprises where possible,” Starmer said in his meeting with Xi.
Still, closer ties with Beijing do not come without difficulty for Starmer. The move will provide an early test of the UK government’s tricky relationship with the incoming Trump administration, which has nominated several China hawks for senior positions. During the first Trump term, the UK came under pressure to take a tougher stance against Huawei’s role in Britain’s 5G network.
Starmer will also face scrutiny at home because the UK has repeatedly accused China of effectively supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Only two weeks ago, Britain sanctioned a number of Chinese companies it said were providing drones that Moscow was using in the conflict.
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