British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will fly to China on Tuesday for the first visit by a British leader in eight years. The trip aims to mend ties with the world's second-largest economy and reduce dependence on an unpredictable United States amid rising tensions. He will meet Chinese leaders in Beijing and Shanghai during the three-day visit.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's trip to China begins on January 27, 2026, accompanied by dozens of business executives and two ministers. It occurs against the backdrop of tensions with the United States, Britain's closest ally, stemming from President Donald Trump's threats to seize control of Greenland. Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at King's College London, noted that "at the forefront of the visit will be what both sides make of the current behaviour and posture of the U.S. and Trump."
Since his 2024 election, Starmer has prioritized resetting ties with China, strained by Beijing's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a former British colony, and allegations of espionage and cyberattacks. The visit offers China an opportunity to woo another U.S. ally amid Trump's volatile trade policies, similar to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent trip, which resulted in an economic deal. In response, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the U.S.
China's state-backed Global Times stated on January 27, 2026, that Beijing advocates for a "multipolar world" as a reliable partner. Western leaders' visits have yielded mixed outcomes: Carney secured tariff cuts on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola oil, while French President Emmanuel Macron's December visit brought few economic benefits.
Britain seeks stronger economic ties with China to fulfill Starmer's pledge to boost living standards through investments in public services and the economy. China was the UK's fourth-largest trading partner in the 12 months to mid-2025, with trade totaling about 100 billion pounds ($137 billion), per government data. Sam Goodman, policy director at the China Strategic Risks Institute in London, questioned the gains: "We have had a lot of concentrated engagement with this government on China, and the real question from this trip is what was it for? Are there tangible outcomes that really point to meaningful growth in the British economy?"
The visit follows the UK government's approval of China's controversial plans for a mega-embassy in central London, despite spying concerns from some politicians. Starmer laid groundwork last month, stating China poses national security threats but closer business ties serve the national interest. It comes at a sensitive time for Western-U.S. relations due to Trump's claims that China threatens the Arctic, necessitating U.S. control of Greenland.
