The last British Prime Minister to visit China was Theresa May in 2018. Before the trip, he and his team were advised to wear camouflage clothing, as there was a risk of hidden cameras being installed in their hotel rooms to record objectionable material.
Keir Starmer was more optimistic about his privacy in Beijing this week, even though security risks have, if anything, increased since the former Tory prime minister was in the city.
China has been accused of spying on Parliament, has imposed sanctions on British MPs and peers, has engaged in serious cyberattacks, has adopted aggressive trade practices and generally, in the government’s own words, is an “era-defining challenge”.
“I can confirm that I did not do that,” Starmer responded when asked whether he had taken refuge while wearing clothes. “I have always said that we need to take advantage of opportunities while keeping our national security in mind.”
Connected: Starmer says China has lifted sanctions on six serving British MPs and peers
The Prime Minister’s instincts indicate his comprehensive approach to balancing the risks on this visit – one of the most important visits of his time in office.
relations between the UK and China,
Starmer intended to begin a thaw in relations between the UK and China, after years of what he described as an “ice age.”.
Beijing does not open its doors without reason, despite the possibilities that closer ties with the world’s second-largest economy offer to a country desperate for growth.
Although officials insisted there was no political involvement, Britain’s decision to greenlight the new Chinese mega-embassy in London smoothed the way.
After that, Starmer was given the whole thing: a formal welcome, a military march-past, a lavish banquet, praise from his host and, crucially, a more than three-hour conversation with President Xi Jinping.
One could see the Prime Minister becoming excited. When Xi’s trade secretary greeted him with a bow, Starmer looked quizzically at his British counterpart, Peter Kyle. Kyle nodded politely.
Although the visit brought some concrete benefits – visa waivers, whisky tariff cuts, investment in China by British companies – it was the 10 individual agreements signed that would really make a difference.
A British official described them as “jammed tomorrow” deals. But the Chinese state is such a bureaucratic monolith that unless the person at the top is signed up, British businesses will struggle to access the market.
So while some at home may have asked, “Was that it?”, what mattered in Number 10’s view was change – and a “more sophisticated” future relationship.
“This journey is just the beginning,” Kyle said at a reception at the British Embassy on Thursday night.
But a more sophisticated relationship does not mean adjusting to China just for the sake of its domestic economy – and ending up in a second “golden age” despite Beijing’s aggression.
Ahead of the visit, the prime minister promised he would “raise issues that need to be raised” – including the fate of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and the persecuted Uyghur community.
They did make him stand, but whether it will have any effect or not is yet to be seen. There was one clear success: China lifted sanctions on six serving British MPs.
While Starmer leaves China on Saturday for the next leg of his trip, he will feel the job is done.
Of course, deepening bilateral ties does not happen in a vacuum, as Donald Trump reminded Britain with his usual candour. Starmer’s efforts were “very dangerous”, he warned.
However, it is the US President’s unreliability that encourages “middle powers” such as Britain, France and Canada to consider their options. China spies an opportunity.
But the biggest challenge awaits the Prime Minister at home. Although he is at his most comfortable – and some say most effective – on the international stage, it is no surprise to his team that he is seen as quite the opposite in the UK.
Although the speculation about leadership has reduced after his stay out of the country, it has not ended. Many political and policy problems await him when he returns to Westminster on Monday.
His confidence in China has increased and he is more determined than ever to move forward peacefully. But it may not take long for him to do so.
On Wednesday afternoon, as the British Airways plane carrying Starmer and his delegation began landing in Beijing, a familiar voice came over the cabin public address system.
This was the Prime Minister. He joked, “Sit back, enjoy the rest of the flight – I’ll get the plane out of here.” It is unclear whether he will be able to make a safe landing at home or not.
