U.S. and U.K. Accuse China of Undermining Cybersecurity
TimeMar 23
Brazil: Keir Starmer Meets Xi Jinping at G20 Summit
Above: Sir Keir Starmer meets with Xi Jinping at the G20 summit on Nov. 18, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Image copyright: Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping on Monday at Brazil's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and called for a "strong UK-China relationship."
This is the first meeting by a UK prime minister with Xi since Theresa May in 2018. It comes after Starmer and Xi spoke on a phone call last August and Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited China in October.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
While frank dialogue and cooperation will always be necessary between two major international powers, there are many concerns that now is certainly not the right time for Starmer to rub shoulders with Beijing. China continues to threaten Taiwan and refuses to condemn Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, with the incoming Trump administration already angered by the UK's decision to rescind the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, posturing toward Beijing will only alienate the US further. The UK must think twice about closer relations with China at this time.
Pro-China narrative
There's enormous potential for cooperation between China and the UK, and Starmer has made no secret that he's seeking a renewed relationship with Xi. Yet so far, the UK's behavior doesn't match its rhetoric, with trade embargoes and an increasing military presence in the South China Sea undermining Downing Street's hopeful messaging. Lammy's visit to China was a step in the right direction, but more must be done to reassure Beijing that Westminster is willing to step out of America's shadow and make use of the opportunities on offer.
