Why China views the UK visit as part of something bigger

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 7 min read 100% complete January 28, 2026 at 01:16 PM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

Chinese leaders have welcomed a flurry of visits from world leaders to Beijing over the past two months, including Sir Keir Starmer, the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years. The UK has recently approved plans for a Chinese mega-embassy in London, which had raised concerns about the timing of the visit. Despite this, both sides are now ready to engage in talks and new deals worth boosting the UK's economy are on the line. This is part of a charm offensive by China aimed at presenting itself as a stable and predictable partner, contrasting with the US. The move follows previous visits from leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced a "new strategic partnership" with China. China views these visits as part of a larger effort to strengthen its relationships with key nations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donald Trump 40% Chatham House 40% Xi Jinping 40% Yu Jie 50% United States ×250% Canada ×360% Mark Carney ×360% Keir Starmer ×370% Beijing ×470% UK ×480% China ×1090%

Keywords

china uk relations 90% geopolitical shakedown 70% charm offensive 70% trade relationship 60% sir keir starmer 60% mark carney 50% strategic partnership 50% western leaders 40% global order 40%