UK Ties with China May Come Under Fire from Trump Amid Starmer's Beijing Visit
US President Donald Trump has expressed concern over the UK's growing economic relationship with China, labeling it "very dangerous" for the country to pursue closer ties with the rival superpower. His comments come just hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's landmark visit to Beijing, where he secured improved market access and investment deals.
Starmer had previously stated that Britain would not have to choose between the US and China, emphasizing the need for a more diversified economy. However, Trump's remarks may create unease in Downing Street, given the unpredictable nature of his presidency and long-standing hostility toward China.
Despite Trump's warnings, Starmer has hailed the visit as a success, stating that the UK-China relationship is now in a "good, strong place." The prime minister also emphasized the benefits of the economic ties with China, including job creation and wealth generation for the UK. Chris Torrens, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, described Starmer's visit as "successful," noting that China is one of the UK's larger trading partners.
The US president's comments may be seen as an attempt to undermine Britain's efforts to build ties with China, which has been a growing focus for the country in recent years. The move comes amid Trump's own on-off threats of trade tariffs and pledges to control Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Canada had already faced similar concerns from Trump earlier this week, when he threatened to impose tariffs if it pursued economic deals with China. However, the US president also acknowledged his personal friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that their relationship is "very good."
US President Donald Trump has expressed concern over the UK's growing economic relationship with China, labeling it "very dangerous" for the country to pursue closer ties with the rival superpower. His comments come just hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's landmark visit to Beijing, where he secured improved market access and investment deals.
Starmer had previously stated that Britain would not have to choose between the US and China, emphasizing the need for a more diversified economy. However, Trump's remarks may create unease in Downing Street, given the unpredictable nature of his presidency and long-standing hostility toward China.
Despite Trump's warnings, Starmer has hailed the visit as a success, stating that the UK-China relationship is now in a "good, strong place." The prime minister also emphasized the benefits of the economic ties with China, including job creation and wealth generation for the UK. Chris Torrens, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, described Starmer's visit as "successful," noting that China is one of the UK's larger trading partners.
The US president's comments may be seen as an attempt to undermine Britain's efforts to build ties with China, which has been a growing focus for the country in recent years. The move comes amid Trump's own on-off threats of trade tariffs and pledges to control Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Canada had already faced similar concerns from Trump earlier this week, when he threatened to impose tariffs if it pursued economic deals with China. However, the US president also acknowledged his personal friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that their relationship is "very good."
I'm kinda surprised by this move from Trump... like, what's the big deal? The UK's not gonna abandon its friends just to appease the US 
. China has so much to offer and it's about time we diversify our economy anyway 
. And let's be real, the US is always trying to stir up drama... I'm sure Starmer was well aware of this when he planned his trip to Beijing 
. Canada got similar flak from Trump last week and they just shrugged it off 
. Maybe we should focus on building our own relationships with China rather than playing the 'good guy' card for the US? 
- 27% believe it'll boost trade, 15% see it as a diplomatic risk, and 22% are unsure 
. Meanwhile, the US has imposed $360 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods since 2018 
. Trump's China obsession is making global markets a bit nervous 
. China's economic growth slowed down to 6.5% in Q4 2023 - a big drop from 9.5% last year 
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We don't want some sort of economic trap, do we? 
I mean, what's the worst that could happen if the UK does have closer ties with China? 
. What do people think is the right way to go here? Should we be playing it safe and sticking with the US, or taking a chance on a new relationship with China? 
. its like he's trying to create a rivalry between the UK and china just to get more attention for himself. and whats with starmer going to china in the first place? is he trying to prove a point or something? 
china's getting all the attention now... starmer seems like he's handling it well tho 
i mean, who doesn't want to boost their economy? [