https://www.scmp.com/rss/510734/feed Breaking news, analysis and opinion on relations between China and Britain, covering issues such as trade, diplomacy and human rights. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press Three men suspected of spying for China were arrested on Wednesday, London police said. One of the three men is the husband of a lawmaker from the governing Labour Party. The three allegedly assisted a foreign intelligence service in violation of the National Security Act of 2023, Metropolitan Police said. Police did not name the suspects because they have not been charged. But they said one was a 39-year-old arrested in London, another was a 68-year-old arrested in Powys, Wales, and the third,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345462/london-police-arrest-3-men-suspicion-spying-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345462/london-police-arrest-3-men-suspicion-spying-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:59:31 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The expansion of the British National (Overseas) route by the Labour government may appear benevolent at first glance, but I wonder if it is a politically calculated move that prioritises party image over genuine support for migrants. As right-wing parties gain traction, is the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344069/how-sincere-labours-narrative-compassion-bno-pathway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344069/how-sincere-labours-narrative-compassion-bno-pathway?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the UK’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, warning the deal could create strategic vulnerabilities amid concerns about China’s growing ties with Mauritius. The deal, finalised in 2025 between Britain and Mauritius, would see Britain transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease to maintain full operational control of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343944/trump-flip-flops-again-saying-uks-chagos-deal-would-be-big-mistake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343944/trump-flip-flops-again-saying-uks-chagos-deal-would-be-big-mistake?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:19:43 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The Chinese embassy in Britain has slammed London’s “malicious” plan to expand an immigration pathway for Hongkongers after the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison, accusing the UK of “manipulating” the issue. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy on Tuesday urged the UK government to stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs after it expanded the British National (Overseas) visa scheme in response to Lai’s sentencing. “The UK’s previous actions of this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343026/chinese-embassy-uk-slams-bno-expansion-manipulating-jimmy-lai-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343026/chinese-embassy-uk-slams-bno-expansion-manipulating-jimmy-lai-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:33:14 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Hongkongers who were minors at the time of the 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for the British National (Overseas) pathway to UK citizenship independently of their parents, with 26,000 arrivals expected under the expanded scheme in the next five years. The move was a response to the 20-year prison sentence handed to former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for convictions of national security-related charges in the city on Monday morning. In a statement on Monday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:26:15 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters A Hong Kong court sentenced former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison on Monday for violating the national security law, closing a chapter on what has become a geopolitical flashpoint between China and the West. In a hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes at West Kowloon Court, three High Court judges handed down penalties to Lai, six senior executives of his Apple Daily tabloid-style newspaper, three companies associated with the now-defunct outlet and two activists. Lai,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342862/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-faces-sentencing-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342862/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-faces-sentencing-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:45:58 +0000 Brian Y. S. Wong Brian Y. S. Wong British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently concluded his four-day visit to China, during which he met President Xi Jinping. He was accompanied by a sizeable delegation of prominent British business leaders across finance, pharmaceuticals, clean energy and aviation. Starmer met Chery chairman Yin Tongyue, who announced his intention to open the carmaker’s European headquarters in Liverpool. Separately, AstraZeneca also announced a US$15 billion investment in China over the next five years. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342664/how-hong-kong-can-bring-china-and-britain-closer-its-not-just-finance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342664/how-hong-kong-can-bring-china-and-britain-closer-its-not-just-finance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hours after landing in Beijing for a landmark visit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sat down for a meal heavy with symbolism. By choosing the same Yunnanese restaurant favoured by Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary during the Biden administration, and even ordering the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342624/uk-needs-independent-china-policy-not-just-trump-hedge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342624/uk-needs-independent-china-policy-not-just-trump-hedge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu London has cemented its role as a leading offshore hub for China’s yuan, according to a new financial cooperation agreement that also aims to ease the cross-listing of firms in each other’s markets. This emerged from the first meeting of the UK-China Financial Working Group, which convened in Beijing on Saturday. The meeting coincided with the final day of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s state visit. The meeting’s outcome and a joint statement were not made public until Friday. “The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342696/uk-china-boost-financial-ties-deepen-londons-role-offshore-yuan-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342696/uk-china-boost-financial-ties-deepen-londons-role-offshore-yuan-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:00:29 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo While China emerges as an unmistakable superpower, “Great” Britain or the “United” Kingdom increasingly sounds like self-mockery. Much of the UK outside London is threatening to descend into developing-world status. There have been at least a dozen instances of English councils declaring bankruptcy since 2018, while one in four could be insolvent by 2027. Diplomatically, it turns out the American cousin across the Atlantic thinks nothing of the so-called special relationship, as London... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342457/starmer-faces-hysterical-backlash-over-new-chinese-embassy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342457/starmer-faces-hysterical-backlash-over-new-chinese-embassy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on his recent visit to Beijing, spoke of the United Kingdom’s desire for a “sophisticated relationship” with China. The phrase invites reflection on Britain’s changing position in the world and Hong Kong’s continuing role within that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342194/how-hong-kong-can-help-cement-uk-china-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342194/how-hong-kong-can-help-cement-uk-china-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:31:40 +0000 dpa dpa British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced backlash over his trip to China amid claims that the UK government has been “tricked” by Beijing. Conservative former security minister Tom Tugendhat raised the issue of Chinese sanctions on British parliamentarians after Starmer announced that “all restrictions” had been lifted on current members. Tugendhat, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, Senior Deputy Speaker Nusrat Ghani and Conservative former minister Neil O’Brien were among those... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342158/starmer-faces-backlash-mps-over-china-trip-amid-claims-he-was-tricked-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342158/starmer-faces-backlash-mps-over-china-trip-amid-claims-he-was-tricked-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:07:21 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim In the first few weeks of this year alone, the leaders of two of the five “eyes” in the world’s oldest intelligence-sharing alliance signalled they were ready to rethink their relationship with China. First came Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and then this week it was the turn of his British counterpart, Keir Starmer. And in both cases, the visits have prompted warnings from US President Donald Trump. As Western economies grapple with the unpredictability and at times hostility of the White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:00:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Britain’s ties with China appeared to have reached a high when President Xi Jinping visited London in 2015. But in recent years, the relationship has severely fractured. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ahead of his visit to Beijing this week, said it had gone from “the golden age to the ice age”. Now a thaw is under way. There is room for cautious optimism. Starmer, the first British leader to visit China since 2018, promised after his election victory in 2024 to reset the relationship. His trip,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341872/starmers-visit-china-highlights-benefits-dialogue-over-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341872/starmers-visit-china-highlights-benefits-dialogue-over-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Beijing has lifted sanctions on British peers and lawmakers, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “This has been a cause of concern in parliament and for parliamentarians for some time and that is why I raised it on this visit,” Starmer told ITV News in Shanghai. “And the response from the Chinese is that the restrictions no longer apply and President Xi has told me that that means that all parliamentarians are welcome to visit,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3341900/uk-says-china-lifts-sanctions-british-lawmakers-after-starmer-xi-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3341900/uk-says-china-lifts-sanctions-british-lawmakers-after-starmer-xi-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:17:50 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow US President Donald Trump criticised UK and Canadian efforts to boost ties with China, as traditional American allies increasingly seek to diversify their global relations. “It’s ‌very dangerous ⁠for them to do that,” Trump said about a UK pledge of deeper business cooperation with China. “And, it’s even more dangerous, ‌I think, for Canada to get ‌into business ‌with China.” Trump spoke to reporters at the premiere of the movie Melania at ‍the Kennedy Centre in Washington. UK Prime Minister... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341814/trump-slams-allies-china-ties-top-generals-fall-cross-strait-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341814/trump-slams-allies-china-ties-top-generals-fall-cross-strait-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:01:09 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Mike Campbell described how he went bankrupt: “Gradually, and then suddenly.” Over the past weeks, there is a feeling that US President Donald Trump and his administration have reached the “suddenly” bit. First, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney captivated a World Economic Forum audience when he described the “rupture” in the rules-based order, a “bargain” that “no longer works”: leaving middle countries like Canada with no choice but to dilute their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341726/gradually-then-suddenly-world-waking-us-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341726/gradually-then-suddenly-world-waking-us-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:30:14 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The UK and China are considering a new cross-border asset-management link and upgrades to their existing stock connect scheme, as both sides seek closer capital-market cooperation, according to Ashley Alder, chairman of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). “We are looking at enhancing market connectivity between China and the UK, particularly by building on the stock connect with Shanghai and Shenzhen,” Alder said. “In addition, we are exploring other areas of cooperation, such as asset... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341772/uk-and-china-weigh-cross-border-asset-management-scheme-deepen-market-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341772/uk-and-china-weigh-cross-border-asset-management-scheme-deepen-market-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:30:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Chinese President Xi Jinping received a unique gift from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday: the official match ball from Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal, according to media reports. Starmer is on an official visit to China, the first by a British leader since 2018 and while he is an ardent Arsenal fan, Xi is reportedly a supporter of Manchester United. The gift linked two of the English Premier League’s most celebrated teams and was part of broader efforts to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341733/chinas-xi-britains-starmer-hopes-gift-manchester-united-match-ball-scores-points?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341733/chinas-xi-britains-starmer-hopes-gift-manchester-united-match-ball-scores-points?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:34:37 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Connor Mycroft Matthew Cheng,Connor Mycroft British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability are in the shared interests of both China and the United Kingdom in a high-profile meeting during his four-day trip to Beijing. Starmer, the first British leader to visit China since 2018, confirmed after the meeting, when asked by the media, that he had mentioned the landmark national security trial of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying with Xi. According to the state... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341709/starmer-stresses-hong-kongs-stability-key-stronger-ties-meeting-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341709/starmer-stresses-hong-kongs-stability-key-stronger-ties-meeting-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:30:25 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China and Britain pledged to deepen dialogue and cooperation in Beijing on Thursday as the leaders of the two countries met in a sign of warming ties between the two countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a “new chapter” in ties and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said relations were in a “strong place”. Later, Starmer announced that several agreements had been struck with Beijing, including visa-free entry for British citizens to China for up to 30 days and an agreement to study... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341624/xi-urges-stable-partnership-starmer-makes-first-china-trip-british-pm-8-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341624/xi-urges-stable-partnership-starmer-makes-first-china-trip-british-pm-8-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:47:15 +0000 Jianxi Liu Jianxi Liu “I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday ahead of his China trip. The visit – after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Beijing trip drew US tariff threats – is an attempt to drag British foreign policy into alignment with 21st century realities: a world of strategic rivalry but deep economic interdependence. Starmer’s remarks are not diplomatic wordplay, but a declaration the United Kingdom will no longer be a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341443/china-visit-starmer-makes-clear-hes-putting-britain-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341443/china-visit-starmer-makes-clear-hes-putting-britain-first?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Britain is eyeing greater engagement and closer trade ties with China, seeking to steady a relationship long marked by volatility, its ambassador to Beijing said, ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s highly anticipated visit. Peter Wilson told reporters on Tuesday that Britain was taking a long-term “strategic approach” to China and that London sought “a relationship that is consistent”. “We want to build the kind of relationship of mutual respect and trust between our leadership that allows... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341445/why-britain-seeks-take-its-relationship-china-new-level-keir-starmer-visits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341445/why-britain-seeks-take-its-relationship-china-new-level-keir-starmer-visits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to visit Beijing, following in the footsteps of other world leaders seeking to boost trade and investment ties with China without sparking reprisals from US President Donald Trump. Starmer will be in China from Thursday to Saturday, according to a Chinese government statement. He will also make a brief stop in Tokyo, a UK government spokesman said. The first official trip to China by a UK prime minister since 2018 reflects the huge opportunities... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341407/world-leaders-flock-beijing-search-trade-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341407/world-leaders-flock-beijing-search-trade-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:19:45 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao In an era of ruptured global order, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s much-anticipated visit to China, scheduled for later this week, marks the culmination of London’s “re-engagement” strategy with Beijing, prioritising trade and growth amid escalating geopolitical risks, according to observers. The Chinese foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that Starmer would visit Beijing and Shanghai between January 28 and 31. Starmer’s government had expressed its desire for a stable and strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341324/keir-starmers-china-trip-test-labours-push-reset-bilateral-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341324/keir-starmers-china-trip-test-labours-push-reset-bilateral-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Mark Logan Mark Logan Winston Churchill wrote his four-volume masterpiece, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, at the very moment a new era of world history was taking shape: victory over the Nazis, the birth of the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions. All signalled continuity of Anglo-Saxon leadership in world affairs, the baton passing fairly peacefully from Britain to America. But 80 years on from the end of the second world war, the world is reconfiguring itself once more. And what it means for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341102/anglosphere-fractures-starmers-china-visit-could-be-historic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341102/anglosphere-fractures-starmers-china-visit-could-be-historic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma The UK approved China’s controversial plan to build a mega-embassy in London, a move that probably paves the way for Keir Starmer to make the first trip to Beijing by a British prime minister since 2018. The decision, following three delays, moves China closer to constructing the roughly 65,000 square metre (700,000 sq ft) embassy at the site of the former Royal Mint near the Tower of London. Local residents may challenge the decision in court. Starmer is set to visit Beijing and Shanghai from... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3340688/china-mega-embassy-approval-further-boosts-uk-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3340688/china-mega-embassy-approval-further-boosts-uk-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:01:08 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Britain on Tuesday approved China’s plan to build a massive new embassy in London, removing a major barrier to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China later this month. The roughly 65,000 square metre (700,000 sq ft) embassy will be built at the site of the former Royal Mint, near the Tower of London. It will replace the Chinese embassy in central London. British media reports have said that Starmer would visit Beijing and Shanghai between January 29 and 31. Neither London nor Beijing has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340578/chinas-mega-embassy-london-gets-green-light-clears-way-starmer-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340578/chinas-mega-embassy-london-gets-green-light-clears-way-starmer-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:23:34 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The United States is likely to lose its clear edge over China in strategic relations with major nations by 2035, a prominent Chinese political scientist has predicted. Yan Xuetong, honorary dean of Tsinghua University’s Institute of International Relations, said strategic competition between Beijing and Washington was likely to remain intense in the coming decade and could escalate into a crisis during US President Donald Trump’s second term, but the risk of direct war could decline under... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340468/how-narrowing-china-us-gap-could-reshape-global-power-play-2035?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340468/how-narrowing-china-us-gap-could-reshape-global-power-play-2035?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:30:44 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang Donald Trump’s renewed threats to take over Greenland could pose a direct challenge to China’s ambitions in the Arctic, but some observers say it may also open the door to increased cooperation with Europe. Following the abduction of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro, the White House swiftly turned its attention towards the self-governing Danish territory, adding that “of course, utilising the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal”. On Sunday, the US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339078/will-donald-trumps-threats-greenland-help-bring-china-and-europe-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339078/will-donald-trumps-threats-greenland-help-bring-china-and-europe-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:00:15 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao The conviction of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in a high-profile Hong Kong trial has drawn sharp reactions in London, casting uncertainty over thawing Sino-British ties before Keir Starmer visits China. Although the outcome of Lai’s 156-day national security trial was widely expected, observers say it poses a significant test for the Labour government’s balancing act on China, which could narrow the space for engagement even if its immediate impact on bilateral relations is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336815/how-will-jimmy-lais-conviction-affect-china-uk-ties-and-keir-starmers-planned-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336815/how-will-jimmy-lais-conviction-affect-china-uk-ties-and-keir-starmers-planned-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:00:25 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Britain’s government on Monday summoned China’s ambassador to the UK to protest the conviction of British citizen Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on national security charges in Hong Kong, while US President Donald Trump said he urged leniency for Lai in a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” Trump told reporters, without specifying exactly when he spoke with Xi. “He is an older man, and he is not well. So I did put... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3336555/trump-urges-xi-show-leniency-jimmy-lai-britain-summons-chinas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3336555/trump-urges-xi-show-leniency-jimmy-lai-britain-summons-chinas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:43:55 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang China’s flagship sovereign wealth fund has revealed that it opened a representative office in London shortly after Donald Trump’s victory in last year’s US presidential election, a move made amid increased scrutiny of Chinese investments in the United States. The London office was officially registered in December 2024, with the mission of “advancing the company’s overseas investment business” and “promoting cross-border investment cooperation”, China Investment Corporation (CIC) said in its... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335938/chinas-sovereign-wealth-fund-reveals-it-opened-london-office-after-trump-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335938/chinas-sovereign-wealth-fund-reveals-it-opened-london-office-after-trump-win?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Lord Stockwood Lord Stockwood There are few truly global hubs in the world. London is one. New York is another. But neither of them connect East and West quite like Hong Kong. I visited the city last week as part of the inaugural UK Investment Conference and saw first-hand the energy and resilience that define this city. That makes the recent tragedy in Tai Po all the more heartbreaking. My message to the people of Hong Kong after this deadly fire is this: we offer our profound sympathy to all those whose lives and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3335801/hong-kong-natural-bridge-uks-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3335801/hong-kong-natural-bridge-uks-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:30:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Britain announced sanctions against Russian media and ideas outlets on Tuesday as the UKs top diplomat warned Western nations must raise their game to combat information warfare from “malign foreign states”. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK was imposing sanctions on the microblogging Telegram channel Rybar and its co-owner Mikhail Sergeevich Zvinchuk, as well as the Centre for Geopolitical Expertise and the Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335820/uk-sanctions-russian-and-chinese-firms-warns-cyber-threats-and-hybrid-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335820/uk-sanctions-russian-and-chinese-firms-warns-cyber-threats-and-hybrid-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:05:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a TikTok account on Monday despite the app being banned from government devices, as he attempts to connect to younger voters. A spokesman for his office said “security mitigations” were in place to operate the Prime Minister’s account. “TikTok, follow me,” Starmer said in the first video posted on the account, which showed him with his wife at the ceremony to switch on Downing Street’s Christmas lights. The second video showed Ukraine’s President... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335664/uk-pm-starmer-launches-tiktok-account-despite-government-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335664/uk-pm-starmer-launches-tiktok-account-despite-government-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:45:23 +0000 Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa Few leaders travel to China seeking gravitas and return with only a couple of pandas, but French President Emmanuel Macron managed to do just that. After surrendering sovereignty to US President Donald Trump, Macron visited China seeking a validation that his citizens no longer grant. His authority at home has been eroded through cabinet implosions, collapsing support, stalled budgets and demands for his resignation. China could see that before he even stepped off the plane. Beijing handled a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335556/macrons-trip-exposes-europes-fractured-china-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335556/macrons-trip-exposes-europes-fractured-china-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called China a security threat this week, but analysts said the statement was motivated by domestic politics and did not negate London’s goal of deepening economic ties with Beijing. Meanwhile, disputes around a new Chinese embassy are expected to continue to test this desire for stronger relations as the British leader plans a state visit. Starmer said on Monday that his government would focus on the relationship with China, which would help protect national... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335230/despite-starmers-china-threat-rhetoric-britain-seeks-tighter-ties-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335230/despite-starmers-china-threat-rhetoric-britain-seeks-tighter-ties-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A high-profile case against two British men accused of spying for China collapsed because of “systemic failures” and not a government conspiracy, a UK parliamentary inquiry concluded on Wednesday. The handling of the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry was at times “shambolic” and reforms are needed to prevent “similar issues” happening again, the cross-party committee of MPs and members of the House of Lords said in its report. Ex-parliamentary researcher Cash and China-based... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335089/uks-china-spy-case-collapsed-due-shambolic-failure-not-conspiracy-inquiry-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3335089/uks-china-spy-case-collapsed-due-shambolic-failure-not-conspiracy-inquiry-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The UK government has rowed back from setting tougher English language requirements on Hongkongers seeking to settle in the country through the British National (Overseas) pathway, saying it will be subject to consultation. Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp also said the government would consider extending the pathway to Hongkongers born after the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, who may not hold BN(O) passports. During a parliament debate on Tuesday about the Labour... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334144/uk-back-pedals-tougher-english-language-test-hongkongers-bno-pathway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334144/uk-back-pedals-tougher-english-language-test-hongkongers-bno-pathway?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:59:08 +0000 dpa dpa British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit last week amid speculation that he could visit Beijing early next year and the country’s controversial embassy in London will be approved. The two leaders are understood to have greeted each other only briefly during a “brush-by” rather than holding formal bilateral talks, after which a readout covering what was discussed would usually be expected from Starmer’s office. China was represented by Premier Li... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334004/uks-starmer-met-premier-li-qiang-g20-south-africa-amid-beijing-visit-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334004/uks-starmer-met-premier-li-qiang-g20-south-africa-amid-beijing-visit-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:26:57 +0000 Reuters Reuters British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit China at the end of January, Sky News reported on Thursday, in what would be the first visit to the country by a British leader in seven years. Starmer’s Labour government has made improved relations with Beijing a priority as it seeks foreign investment to make good on its election pledge to upgrade infrastructure and grow Britain’s economy. But the relationship has been bumpy, with both countries trading accusations of spying. The prime minister’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333601/uk-pm-keir-starmer-visit-china-january-sky-news-reports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333601/uk-pm-keir-starmer-visit-china-january-sky-news-reports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:41:28 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Britain’s domestic intelligence agency on Tuesday warned lawmakers that Chinese spies were actively reaching out to “recruit and cultivate” them via headhunters or cover companies. Writing to lawmakers, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said a new MI5 “espionage alert” warned that Chinese nationals were “using LinkedIn profiles to conduct outreach at scale” on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. “Their aim is to collect information and lay the groundwork for long-term... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3333301/mi5-warns-chinese-spies-are-targeting-uk-lawmakers-linkedin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3333301/mi5-warns-chinese-spies-are-targeting-uk-lawmakers-linkedin?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:25:44 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China launched a charm offensive at a new Northern Ireland trade forum on Tuesday, as Beijing’s chief diplomat to the United Kingdom promised fresh investment and opportunities to tap the vast consumer market of the world’s second-largest economy. The efforts come as China’s widening trade surpluses face rising criticism and scrutiny from European countries – including the UK – amid mounting trade tensions between China and the West. “China is Northern Ireland’s second-largest source of imports... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332497/china-woos-northern-ireland-promises-boost-investment-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332497/china-woos-northern-ireland-promises-boost-investment-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:00:15 +0000 Jinghan (Michael) Zeng Jinghan (Michael) Zeng British politics is once again allowing domestic drama to override strategic thinking. The latest hysteria surrounding alleged Chinese spying and Beijing’s plans for a new embassy in London illustrates how Britain’s foreign policy risks being driven less by sober calculation than by political theatre. The consequences could be severe: Britain is edging towards repeating the mistakes of Brexit, trading its long-term national interests for short-term populist gain. In the United States, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332033/britain-danger-repeating-brexit-mistakes-china-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332033/britain-danger-repeating-brexit-mistakes-china-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:30:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Fosun Pharmaceutical, a leading healthcare group, has taken a substantial step towards introducing particle therapy systems to hospitals in mainland China, aligning with Beijing’s efforts to make advanced medical treatment accessible to cancer patients across the country. The Shanghai-based company, a subsidiary of China’s non-state-owned conglomerate Fosun International, formed a partnership with Leo Cancer Care on Thursday, pledging to distribute the UK firm’s Marie medical facilities in the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3331824/fosun-brings-uk-particle-therapy-mainland-china-push-advanced-cancer-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3331824/fosun-brings-uk-particle-therapy-mainland-china-push-advanced-cancer-care?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:30:16 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Carol Yang Xiaofei Xu,Carol Yang China has denounced the United Kingdom for sanctioning 11 Chinese companies over “alleged connections” with Russia despite Beijing’s diplomatic objections, warning the move could damage the UK-China relationship. “The UK’s actions constitute unilateral sanctions that lack both a basis in international law and authorisation from the United Nations,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Monday. Beijing urged London to “immediately correct its mistake and lift the sanctions on the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330576/beijing-slams-uks-unilateral-sanctions-11-chinese-firms-over-russia-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330576/beijing-slams-uks-unilateral-sanctions-11-chinese-firms-over-russia-links?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:23:38 +0000 Harvey Kong,Lo Hoi-ying Harvey Kong,Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities have strongly condemned the “untruthful remarks, slanders and smears” in the UK’s monitoring report on the city, which claimed that national security legislation had diminished the city’s political autonomy. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, in her report, also said it was “hardly surprising” that hundreds of thousands of people had left the city to places where “freedoms are better protected” as she reiterated London’s commitment to the British National (Overseas),... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330151/hong-kong-government-condemns-smears-uks-latest-6-month-monitoring-report-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330151/hong-kong-government-condemns-smears-uks-latest-6-month-monitoring-report-city?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 03:42:48 +0000 Jinghan (Michael) Zeng Jinghan (Michael) Zeng The collapse of the so-called China spy case in the UK has sparked a storm of headlines. Accusations of “spying for China”, allegations of improper government involvement in the dropping of the case, White House anger – the story ticked every box for front-page drama. Criticism of the government’s handling of the case was amplified by opposition politicians and commentators who never miss an opportunity to cast suspicion on closer ties with Beijing. This is not the first time people have been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3329258/wake-britain-your-pressing-problem-hardly-chinese-espionage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3329258/wake-britain-your-pressing-problem-hardly-chinese-espionage?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press China poses a daily threat to Britain’s security, the head of MI5, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, said on Thursday in remarks that step up pressure on authorities to explain why the prosecution of two men charged with spying for Beijing collapsed just before they were due to stand trial. The government, opposition politicians and prosecutors have traded blame over the failed criminal case as the United Kingdom tries to balance between challenging and engaging with the Asian... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3329299/mi5-chief-says-china-poses-daily-threat-uk-security-amid-collapse-spying-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3329299/mi5-chief-says-china-poses-daily-threat-uk-security-amid-collapse-spying-case?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:14:17 +0000