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Snapshot 8:Wed, Jan 28, 2026 12:50:39 PM GMT last edited by Joshua

UK: PM Starmer Visits China in 8-Year First

UK: PM Starmer MakesVisits First China Visit in 8-Year YearsFirst

UK: PM Starmer Visits China in 8-Year First
Above: U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2026. Image credit: Carl Court/Getty Images

The Spin

Eight years without a British PMleader visiting China represents a shameful and stupid lapse that has damaged crucial economic opportunities for British workers. During this time, Britain has foolishly lectured and threatened China with baseless smears while the country has become an economic superpower. It's time to showreset respectrelations towith China, stopbuilding playingmutual mini-metrust toamid TrumpWashington's tiradesincreasing and accept that the tables have turnedinstability.

Visiting China while British citizen Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned in torturous conditions is unconscionable and represents a mindless cosying-up to the Chinese Communist Party. China continues subjecting Uighurs to appalling human rights violations, brutally oppressing Hong Kong and making brazen attempts to recruit spies around Westminster. Economic gains must never override Britain's duty to safeguard national security and call out Chinese wrongdoing.

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 15% chance that, if China invades Taiwan before 2035, the U.K. will respond with military forces, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0