Starmer's visit to China was not a reset, but a new way forward

"The UK prime minister's trip to Beijing reflects the realities of a new global order that has upended traditional alliances. Diplomacy, much of the time, is about symbols rather than substance. And in the case of China, that can be particularly true. In this sense, what was important about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China at the end of January was that it happened at all."

"What certainly tipped the balance was the increased intensity with which the US administration is now turning on its traditional allies. The visit did not reset relations, but it revealed that the world has entered a new era of global power dynamics, which is already reflected in diplomacy. On January 23, just a week before his trip to China, Starmer summoned up a rare display of public anger, condemning US President Donald Trump's remarks about British troops in Afghanistan."

Keir Starmer visited Beijing at the end of January, the first trip by a British prime minister in eight years. Multiple tensions have strained UK-China ties, including accusations that two British citizens spied for China, delays in approving a new Chinese embassy in London, and the trial of democracy activist Jimmy Lai. The visit proceeded because perceived benefits outweighed negatives, especially as the US increasingly pressures traditional allies. The trip did not reset bilateral relations. The visit highlighted symbolic diplomacy and signaled a shift in global power dynamics and closer scrutiny of US-UK alignment following public disputes.

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