Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he will not be forced to “choose between” relations with the US or China, ahead of the first visit of a British leader to Beijing in eight years.Sir Keir said the UK would maintain “close ties” with the US on business, security and defence, but added that “sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China… wouldn’t be sensible”. In the interview with Bloomberg News, he said the visit to the world’s second-largest economy could bring “significant opportunities” for British companies. Dozens of UK business leaders are expected to travel with him.The trip comes days after the UK approved controversial plans for a vast new Chinese embassy in London.The long-delayed decision was made despite opponents warning it could be used as a base for Chinese spying. “I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that,” Sir Keir said in the interview.”I remember when I was doing the US trade deal, and everybody put to me that I’d have to make a choice between the US and Europe, and I said, ‘I’m not making that choice.'””We’ve got very close relations with the US – of course, we want to – and we will maintain that business, alongside security and defence,” he said.”Equally, just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China, when it’s the second-biggest economy in the world and there are business opportunities wouldn’t be sensible.”Of the delegation travelling with him to China, Sir Keir added: “They understand the opportunities that there are… That does not mean compromising on national security – quite the opposite.”T …
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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he will not be forced to “choose between” relations with the US or China, ahead of the first visit of a British leader to Beijing in eight years.Sir Keir said the UK would maintain “close ties” with the US on business, security and defence, but added that “sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China… wouldn’t be sensible”. In the interview with Bloomberg News, he said the visit to the world’s second-largest economy could bring “significant opportunities” for British companies. Dozens of UK business leaders are expected to travel with him.The trip comes days after the UK approved controversial plans for a vast new Chinese embassy in London.The long-delayed decision was made despite opponents warning it could be used as a base for Chinese spying. “I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that,” Sir Keir said in the interview.”I remember when I was doing the US trade deal, and everybody put to me that I’d have to make a choice between the US and Europe, and I said, ‘I’m not making that choice.'””We’ve got very close relations with the US – of course, we want to – and we will maintain that business, alongside security and defence,” he said.”Equally, just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China, when it’s the second-biggest economy in the world and there are business opportunities wouldn’t be sensible.”Of the delegation travelling with him to China, Sir Keir added: “They understand the opportunities that there are… That does not mean compromising on national security – quite the opposite.”T …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
