Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is welcomed upon his arrival at an airport in Beijing, China, Wednesday. Earlier, he told reporters on his plane that he would balance engagement with China with national security concerns. He is the first U.K. prime minister to visit Beijing since Theresa May in 2018. Trump has threatened to put a 100% tariff on Canada if it reaches a trade deal with China, prompting a swift response from Carney. AdvertisementChris Patten, the British governor of Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997, said Starmer should be firm in raising disagreements over Lai’s imprisonment and other human rights issues.

Source: The Times January 28, 2026 22:53 UTC