Trump Warns UK Over China Ties as Starmer Pushes Reset
Washington : US President Donald Trump has warned that Britain’s growing economic engagement with China is “dangerous,” as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the economic benefits of resetting relations with Beijing during his official visit to China.
Speaking to media in Washington ahead of the premiere of the film “Melania” at the Kennedy Center, Trump reacted to Britain’s expanding ties with China, saying: “Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that.” He did not elaborate further on the remarks.
Starmer, meanwhile, held three-hour talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, calling for a “more sophisticated relationship” between the two countries. The discussions focused on improved market access, lower tariffs, and investment cooperation, alongside cultural exchanges. The British leader later told a gathering at the UK-China Business Forum that his meetings with Xi were “very warm” and had delivered “real progress.”
He described agreements on visa-free travel and reduced whisky tariffs as important breakthroughs, saying they were “symbolic of what we’re doing with the relationship” and essential for building “mutual trust and respect.”
During his visit, Starmer also met Chinese business leaders, including Yin Tongyue, chief executive of carmaker Chery, which plans to establish a research and development centre in Liverpool for its commercial vehicle division, according to city officials.
In London, British trade department minister Chris Bryant rejected Trump’s warning, saying the US president was wrong to label the UK’s China engagement as dangerous. Speaking to the BBC, Bryant said Britain approached its relationship with China “with its eyes wide open.”
Trump, who is expected to visit China in April, last week also threatened tariffs against Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney signed economic agreements with Beijing. British and Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s remarks.
Starmer has made improving relations with the world’s second-largest economy a key priority as his Labour government, in power since July 2024, seeks to revive economic growth. His China visit comes amid uncertainty created by Trump’s shifting trade policies and geopolitical rhetoric, which have unsettled long-standing US allies.
Speaking to reporters while en route to China, Starmer said Britain would not be forced to choose between Washington and Beijing, stressing the depth of the UK’s strategic relationship with the United States across defence, security, intelligence, and trade. He pointed to £150 billion in US investment announced during Trump’s September visit to Britain as evidence of continued close ties.
British officials said Washington had been informed in advance about the objectives of Starmer’s China trip. In recent weeks, Starmer has also shown greater willingness to challenge Trump publicly, urging him to apologise for remarks about NATO troops and rejecting US pressure over Greenland.
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