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

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Kerry BrownFebruary 1, 2026 at 01:56 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, visited China in late January 2026, marking the first such trip by a UK leader in eight years. The visit, taking place in Beijing, signals a shift in global power dynamics rather than a reset of UK-China relations. Tensions between the two countries have existed, including accusations of espionage and disagreements over diplomatic matters. However, the visit was prompted by increasing strain in the US-UK alliance, highlighted by Starmer's public criticism of President Trump. This departure from the historically close alignment between the UK and the US influenced the nature of Starmer's engagement with China. The visit reflects a new era of diplomacy amidst evolving global alliances.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

King's College 30% Jimmy Lai 40% London 50% Donald Trump ×260% United States ×470% Beijing ×270% UK ×380% Keir Starmer ×490% China ×790%

Keywords

uk-china relations 90% keir starmer 80% diplomacy 70% global power dynamics 70% new global order 60% us-uk relations 60% foreign policy 50% beijing visit 50% traditional alliances 50%

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Al Jazeera

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90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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uk-china relations keir starmer diplomacy global power dynamics new global order us-uk relations foreign policy beijing visit traditional alliances

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