Keir Starmer will be pleased that he has secured several agreements to mark his visit to Beijing and by the warm tone of President Xi Jinping’s remarks about his government. However, No 10’s announcements do not put a figure on the value of the deals, and there does not appear to be a big bundle of investments worth billions by Chinese or British firms, which prime ministers have usually tended to hold up as a sign of success. These are the agreements secured by the UK so far. Visa-free travel…
Month: January 2026
Xi didn’t really see a point to Kier’s visit – but hey, let a hundred flowers bloom | John Crace
Let’s face it, this was never going to be a meeting of equals. Keir Starmer had been desperate to squeeze in a trip to China for some time. Another country to tick off his list and he always feels a lot better about himself when he’s abroad. Less noise from his unhappy MPs. Plus he loved the pomp and ceremony that came with it. The large flags. The military bands. A country that treated him with respect. Almost. Besides, Mark Carney and Emmanuel Macron had both made recent trips. He…
A rescue mission for the rules-based order
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The US-shaped hole in global governance is now clear for all to see, and raises what may be a defining geopolitical question of our times: can some version of a rules-based international order be salvaged for the rest of the world? In some areas, at least, there are grounds for hope — if other powers, above all Europe, step up to the task. The most straightforward area is trade, which…
Chinese state media views Starmer’s visit as act of economic pragmatism
Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing has been cautiously welcomed by Chinese state media as an act of economic pragmatism by a beleaguered British prime minister. The presence of 50 business and cultural leaders with Starmer, who is the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years, was taken as a sign that the UK was prioritising its ailing economy over political considerations. The reported refusal of Starmer to confirm that he would be seen to pressure President Xi Jinping over his relationship with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin,…
What happened when Starmer met Xi Jinping? – podcast
Keir Starmer held talks with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week and proclaimed Britain should have a more ‘sophisticated’ relationship with China. Pippa Crerar, who was with the prime minister on the trip, tells Kiran Stacey what all this means The Guardian
China’s leaders pay tribute to Liao Xilong, late general described as ‘Communist warrior’
China’s leadership has paid tribute to Liao Xilong, praising the late general for his loyalty to the Communist Party and military service. Liao, 85, who was in charge of overhauling military logistics, died on January 23, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, the day of his funeral. “[Liao was] a time-tested and loyal communist warrior, an outstanding military commander, and an exemplary leader in advancing the comprehensive modernisation of military logistics,” the report said. Advertisement Liao and Zhang were both combat veterans and rose to high military office but…
Want to solve deepfakes? Ask citizens what to do
According to Taiwan’s roving cyber ambassador Audrey Tang, social media resembles fire. When contained, it is like a campfire that fosters community and keeps campers warm. Left unchecked, it rages like wildfire, devastating people’s lives. How best to control it? Around the world, politicians are struggling with how to tame the flames of online extremism, disinformation and deepfakes, now increasingly fuelled by AI. This week, the EU launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s xAI following public disgust at the circulation of deepfake sexualised images. If xAI is found in…
With China’s Xi, Britain’s Starmer hopes gift of Manchester United match ball scores points
Chinese President Xi Jinping received a unique gift from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday: the official match ball from Sunday’s fixture between Manchester United and Arsenal, according to media reports. While Starmer is an ardent Arsenal fan, Xi is reportedly a supporter of Manchester United. Advertisement Manchester United secured a 3-2 victory in a tightly contested match. By offering the gift involving two of the English Premier League’s most celebrated teams, Starmer’s gesture appeared meant to warm up Sino-British ties that have been fraught with complexity.…
Do Americans think China will overtake the US? The results of a survey are in
Releasing the results of a national poll earlier this month, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said 47 per cent of the 1,500 adults surveyed agreed that China had already surpassed the United States or would do so within the next five years. A further 27 per cent said the shift would take longer, while only 26 per cent said China would never catch up. Advertisement The survey was carried out between November 24 and December 1. China’s biggest advantage, according to the respondents, was technological. Advertisement Asked where China…
China rolls out the red carpet for Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer admitted he had to humiliate himself at the court of Xi Jinping on Thursday, but not in the way some of his critics had expected. “Xi’s a Manchester United fan and we arranged to get him a football signed by the players after their game against Arsenal on Sunday,” said one Downing Street insider. United beat Starmer’s Arsenal 3-2 and the prime minister was not happy: “He couldn’t believe he had to hand over that ball.” But on more obviously awkward moments for Starmer in the Great…