Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Britain will not be forced to choose between the United States and China as he prepares for a landmark visit to Beijing this week, arguing that engaging with the world’s second-largest economy is both pragmatic and necessary for British businesses. Speaking in an interview on Monday, Starmer framed his approach as one of balance, rejecting suggestions that closer engagement with China would come at the expense of the UK’s relationship with its closest allies.
Starmer’s trip, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, follows through on a Labour Party pledge to reset ties with Beijing after years of strained relations marked by disputes over Hong Kong, Covid-19, and allegations of espionage. It also comes shortly after a visit to China by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, which triggered renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, sharpening concerns about how Washington views allied outreach to Beijing.
“I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that,” Starmer said from 10 Downing Street, recalling similar pressure during earlier trade negotiations when he was urged to pick between the US and Europe. He insisted Britain could pursue constructive relations with China while maintaining its long-standing alliance with Washington, calling the idea of a forced choice both false and unhelpful.
In recent months, Starmer’s government has taken steps to smooth tensions with Beijing ahead of the visit, including approving plans for a controversial new Chinese embassy in London. The move signaled a willingness to stabilize diplomatic ties, even as deep disagreements remain over security and human rights. Starmer said he would raise sensitive issues, including the imprisonment of British national and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, when he meets Chinese leaders such as President Xi Jinping, but made clear that economic engagement is a priority.
China represents Britain’s largest untapped market, Starmer argued, particularly after the collapse of the “golden age” of relations promised under former prime minister David Cameron, which later gave way to sanctions and recriminations over Hong Kong. UK-China trade stood at about $93 billion in 2024, compared with $141 billion with the United States, figures that Starmer sees as evidence of significant growth potential. He is traveling with a delegation of around 60 leaders from business, academia, and cultural institutions to meetings in Beijing and Shanghai.
Starmer’s broader trade strategy reflects his attempt to position Britain as a flexible, globally engaged economy after Brexit. While he has ruled out rejoining the European Union, his government has reduced trade frictions with Brussels, secured a major trade deal with India, and continued negotiations with Washington on a framework agreement announced with Trump in May that has yet to be finalized.
The prime minister also sought to downplay fears that engagement with China would undermine national security, insisting that economic pragmatism and security vigilance were not mutually exclusive. “Just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China wouldn’t be sensible,” he said, adding that engagement could coexist with firm safeguards.
Relations with Washington have been tested in recent weeks, including by Trump’s threats of tariffs linked to Greenland and controversial remarks minimizing the role of NATO allies in Afghanistan. Starmer described his dealings with the US president as “mature,” saying tensions earlier in the week had eased after what he called a pragmatic British approach rooted in principle.
At the same time, Starmer signaled that Britain would need to strengthen defense ties with Europe as the US shifts strategic focus away from the continent. He said Europe must become more capable in its own defense and indicated openness to higher military spending, while stressing that American backing remained essential, particularly in Ukraine.
Starmer said he spoke with Trump by phone over the weekend about Ukraine, warning that both Kyiv and Europe still depend on US support for security guarantees. While he said allies had made progress this year in reinforcing those guarantees, negotiations with Russia over territory remained difficult. For Starmer, Ukraine underscored the central argument of his foreign policy: Britain must stay closely aligned with the United States, even as it expands its global economic reach, including with China.
