Unnerved by Trump, U.S. allies are making nice with China
Starmer later said British nationals would be allowed to travel to China without a visa for business and tourism, joining dozens of other countries. The two countries also announced a series of economic agreements.
This may all sound familiar to you.
Starmer’s four-day visit to China, the first by a British leader since 2018, follows a similar trip by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney said after meeting Xi that the two countries formed a “new strategic partnership”, describing China as a “more predictable” partner.
Carney was the first leader from his country to visit China since 2017, as was South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who met with Xi earlier this year.
The prime ministers of Ireland and Finland also visited Beijing this month, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to visit at the end of February.
Starmer’s trip to China is a “positive step for both sides”, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, an associate researcher at the Paris-based Asia Center.
“Everyone is becoming more realistic about China in a global environment where developments are increasingly unpredictable because of the United States,” he told NBC News.
China, for its part, “is happy to see so many visitors because it demonstrates that China is important, that it is not isolated in one way or another, despite its political regime.” [and] its friction with the United States,” said Hong Kong-based Cabestan.
U.S. allies aren’t the only ones making their way to Beijing: Trump himself is planning a trip to China in April.
China is not the only country to benefit from increased interest in non-U.S. trade. On Tuesday, India and the 27-nation European Union reached a long-delayed trade deal that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the “mother of all deals,” covering 2 billion people.
The trip to China also prompted Starmer to approve the construction of a huge new Chinese embassy in London, which had been the subject of debate since 2018 due to national security concerns.
Starmer has prioritized repairing relations with China since taking office in 2024, as Britain faces deep economic malaise and adjusts to life as a middle power outside the EU. He has faced public criticism over this approach, particularly in light of high-profile allegations of Chinese spying in Britain.
“I made a promise 18 months ago, when we were elected to government, that I would make Britain look outward again,” he said on Thursday. “Because, as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens in our home countries, from the prices on supermarket shelves to our sense of security. »
NBC News reached out to the White House for its reaction to the outreach efforts by U.S. allies and the impact of Trump’s tariffs.
Experts say that while it is understandable that U.S. allies, angered by Trump, are seeking to increase their influence, reengaging with Beijing does not mean a radical shift from Washington.
“The recent engagements do not constitute strategic pivots for China – and Beijing is clear on this,” said Amanda Hsiao, director of the Eurasia Group’s China practice.
“Allies will remain integrated into a U.S.-led security architecture, continue to maintain a strong trade relationship with Washington, and continue to reduce China-related risks in sensitive sectors,” she said in an email.
