Starmer's fraught visit to China will tell us what he really thinks of the UK's place in the world | Peter Frankopan

"Since then, relations between London and Beijing have become increasingly fraught, caught between growing security concerns and deep economic interdependence. Allegations of espionage and influence operations have sharpened political and public suspicion in the UK, even as deep trade links and supply chains on which the country depends make disengagement unrealistic. The result is an uneasy balancing act in which caution and cooperation coexist, often uncomfortably."

"These security concerns are grounded in recent experience. In December, the Foreign Office disclosed it had been the target of a sustained cyber-attack two months earlier that was suspected to be the work of a Chinese group known as Storm 1849. This followed investigations into alleged espionage involving parliamentary researchers and repeated warnings from security agencies about technology transfer and data exposure in sensitive industries."

"For all the current mood of malaise and low confidence, the UK is still a key part of the global geopolitical architecture. As a permanent member of the UN security council, a state with nuclear capability and a G7 country (even if at the bottom with regards to total investment), it retains significant clout. China, however, also arrives at the table with formidable leverage: it is the world's second-largest economy and a central hub in global manufacturing and supply chains,"

Keir Starmer will visit China, the first British prime ministerial trip since Theresa May in 2018. Relations between London and Beijing have become increasingly fraught, balancing growing security concerns with deep economic interdependence. Allegations of espionage and influence operations have sharpened political and public suspicion, while extensive trade links and supply chains make disengagement unrealistic. Recent incidents include a suspected Chinese-linked cyber-attack on the Foreign Office and investigations into alleged espionage involving parliamentary researchers. The UK retains significant geopolitical clout as a UN Security Council permanent member, nuclear state and G7 country, while China brings economic and supply-chain leverage on global issues.

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