Starmer says China poses a threat to UK national security
2 December 2025 11:23
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that China poses a threat to his country’s national security, but reaffirmed his government’s decision to step up cooperation with China, as closer business ties are in Britain’s interests.
This was reported by Reuters, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
It is noted that Starmer’s Labor government has made improving relations with China one of its foreign policy priorities, but there has been no significant improvement due to a series of London’s accusations of espionage against Beijing.
Speaking to business leaders in the City of London, the capital’s historic financial district, Starmer said that the UK’s relationship with China has swung from one extreme to the other for too long.
“It’s time for a serious approach. We need to reject the simplistic binary choice of ‘golden age’ or ‘ice age’ and recognize the obvious fact that it is possible to work and trade with a country while protecting ourselves,” the British prime minister said.
Starmer’s public statement that China poses a threat to Britain’s national security comes after the government’s refusal to recognize China as such a threat led to the failure of the trial of two men accused of spying for Beijing in September.
The prime minister also called the lack of engagement by previous Conservative governments with China a “dereliction of duty,” noting that French President Emmanuel Macron has visited China twice in the past seven years and German leaders have visited four times, while the last British leader to visit China was former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2018.
Starmer also rejected the idea that British-Chinese relations should be determined by balancing economic and security considerations, emphasizing that his government would not trade security in one area for greater economic access.
“Protecting our security is non-negotiable – it is our first duty. But by taking decisive measures to ensure our security, we make it possible to cooperate in other areas,” he said.
According to him, in areas where there are no significant security risks, the government will encourage enterprises to improve business ties with China.
“In areas such as financial and professional services, creative industries, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods and others where the UK has a strong position, the export opportunities are huge and we will support you to take advantage of them,” Starmer said, addressing the business and corporate leaders present.
Starmer took over the UK government after Labor’s victory in the July 2024 parliamentary elections and is preparing to visit China next year.
