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China-UK relations
OpinionLetters

LettersUK needs an independent China policy, not just a Trump hedge

Readers discuss the British prime minister’s visit to Beijing, allies drifting away from Washington, and the blame game over narcotics

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Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and China’s President Xi Jinping hold a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 29. Photo: AFP
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Hours after landing in Beijing for a landmark visit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sat down for a meal heavy with symbolism. By choosing the same Yunnanese restaurant favoured by Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary during the Biden administration, and even ordering the same dish of jian shou qing, the wild mushrooms famous for their hallucinogenic potential, Starmer seemed to be indulging in a bit of nostalgia. It was a wistful nod to the Biden era, when the “special relationship” still offered a predictable umbrella.

Yet, Starmer is sober enough to recognise that in the era of Donald Trump, such a vision is a luxury. The sitting United States president was the undeniable elephant in the room as Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Many viewed the meeting through the lens of reactivity and saw it as a British pivot towards China after Trump’s “America first” foray into Venezuela and threats to Greenland and Canada left traditional alliances looking rather thin.

However, this narrow interpretation obscures the reality of the bilateral opportunity. To view the relationship only as a hedge against Washington is to do a disservice to British interests. From halving whisky tariffs to allowing United Kingdom citizens 30-day visa-free travel, China is offering tangible economic benefits independently of the transatlantic climate.

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