Britain’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, is set to embark on a significant visit to China next week, as the newly formed Labour government aims to shift its approach towards the world’s second-largest economy. The new administration is seeking to establish less confrontational ties with China and re-initiate trade and investment discussions, a departure from the more assertive stance adopted by the previous Conservative government.
While British officials have stated their desire to recalibrate their position on China, which they previously termed an “epoch-defining challenge,” they are not prepared to compromise on key issues. These include concerns about Chinese firms’ involvement in critical infrastructure projects, human rights violations, and the continued operation of the state-controlled broadcaster, CGTN.
Lammy’s trip, which will include meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing and representatives of British companies in Shanghai, marks a crucial step towards rebuilding ties. His primary goal is to overhaul Britain’s relationship with China. However, the final itinerary is yet to be finalized.
The visit follows a telephone conversation in August between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which both leaders emphasized the need for open and honest dialogue about their differences while fostering closer economic ties and collaborating on global issues.
Adding to the diplomatic flurry, Britain’s Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is also considering a trip to China in the near future, with the aim of reviving the annual UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. The last round of these talks took place in 2019.
Despite China’s status as Britain’s sixth largest trading partner, accounting for 5% of its total trade, several unresolved issues remain. These include lingering concerns over Hong Kong, allegations of espionage, and the ongoing impasse over a new Chinese embassy in London.
Last week, two British citizens, including a former researcher for a prominent British lawmaker, pleaded not guilty to charges of spying for China. This followed China’s accusation in June that British foreign intelligence service MI6 had recruited two staff members from Chinese state bodies as spies.
Furthermore, Beijing is awaiting approval for its plan to construct a new embassy in London after the previous building was deemed a security risk and demolished in December 2022.
Recent years have witnessed a series of exchanges between the two countries regarding Hong Kong, the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997. Over 180,000 individuals have migrated to Britain from Hong Kong under a special visa program introduced in response to a crackdown on dissent in the Asian financial hub.
In September, a senior Labour lawmaker advocated for a ban on imports of products manufactured using forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region, highlighting the complexity and sensitivity of the issues that will continue to shape the relationship between Britain and China.
