It is the first time that a British Prime Minister has visited China since 2018 — the same year in which Beijing purchased, for more than 260 million euros, a 20,000 square meter plot of land in the heart of London where a “mega” Chinese embassy will be built. Starmer’s visit, according to analysts, depended in part on approval from the embassy
Keir Starmer says the UK will not be forced to choose between China and the United States. The British Prime Minister, who leaves this Tuesday for a three-day state visit to China, is seeking greater Chinese investment in Britain, at a time when relations between the United States and European allies are increasingly distant.
It’s a risky journey for Starmer. Just a few days ago, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if the Canadian Prime Minister made a trade deal with China.
But Starmer wants to be practical, and hopes Trump sees things the same way.
It is the first time that a British Prime Minister has visited China since 2018 — the same year in which Beijing purchased, for more than 260 million euros, a 20,000 square meter plot of land in the heart of London where a “mega” Chinese embassy will be built. Starmer’s visit, according to analysts, depended in part on embassy approval.
Approval took time. The embassy — which will be the largest in Europe — will be located next to London’s financial district, close to fiber optic cables that carry sensitive data for financial companies — and which, some say, could be used to spy on Chinese citizens and dissidents in London.
Still, the government guarantees that the British security services can deal with the embassy’s presence, and that the fact that the Chinese diplomatic corps is concentrated in a single location can facilitate monitoring.
However, on the other side of the Atlantic, the decision was not well received. The Trump administration criticized the decision, and the president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, says he wished the United States had kept the land, highlighting the “symbolism” of China occupying “such a prominent place” in the British capital.
