London, UK – Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer delivered a major foreign policy speech today, outlining a new approach to the UK’s relationship with China. Starmer asserted that continuing the current pattern of fluctuating engagement - what he termed “blowing hot and cold” – would be “a dereliction of duty,” given China’s meaning as “a defining force in technology, trade and global governance.”
He argued that a consistent, robust relationship is crucial for bolstering the UK’s international standing and securing national interests, while acknowledging the “reality” that China “poses national security threats.” Starmer rejected a simplistic “binary choice” between cooperation and confrontation, stating the response would be “grounded in strength, clarity and sober realism.”
The speech followed recent warnings from UK security services regarding Chinese espionage activity. Earlier this month, alerts were issued specifically identifying LinkedIn profiles - Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen – allegedly used by the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) to target individuals in British politics, including economists, think tank employees, and parliamentary staff ”at scale.” The Chinese Embassy has dismissed these accusations as “pure fabrication” and detrimental to China-UK relations.
Concerns have also been raised regarding a proposed large-scale new Chinese embassy near the City of London,possibly situated close to sensitive data infrastructure. Housing Secretary Steve Reed holds the final approval, following consultations with MI5 and MI6, despite opposition from Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
Starmer emphasized that security would not be compromised for economic gain, appearing to rule out trade in areas like defense, artificial intelligence, and critical national infrastructure. “Protecting our security is non-negotiable – our first duty,” he stated.
Though, he indicated willingness to cooperate in sectors where the UK excels, including financial and professional services, creative industries, pharmaceuticals, and luxury goods, highlighting “huge” export opportunities.
