Search Results for: starmer

Deal diplomacy: Starmer’s China trip bets on business over ideology

In the following analysis for Beijing Review, Carlos Martinez assesses British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s January visit to China as a significant moment in the recalibration of Britain-China relations amid accelerating geopolitical changes. The trip – the first by a British prime minister in eight years – signals a cautious thaw after a prolonged diplomatic … Continue reading Deal diplomacy: Starmer’s China trip bets on business over ideology

Keir Starmer’s small-stick diplomacy

In the article below, published in the Morning Star on 4 February, Andrew Murray argues that Keir Starmer’s visit to China marks a rare moment of realism in British foreign policy after years of hopelessly counterproductive hostility shaped by the demands of Washington. Starmer’s pragmatism reflects an overdue recognition that rebuilding relations with China is … Continue reading Keir Starmer’s small-stick diplomacy

Breaking the ice: Starmer’s pragmatic turn to China

In the following article, which was originally published by the Morning Star, Keith Bennett notes that the recent China visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer marked the end of a long diplomatic hiatus and produced tangible, if limited, economic results. It had been nearly eight years since a British prime minister, Theresa May, had … Continue reading Breaking the ice: Starmer’s pragmatic turn to China

Keir Starmer dares to lecture President Xi on human rights?!

As we reported last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held his first in-person meeting with President Xi Jinping on November 18 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. As we noted in our introduction to that report, “much of the goodwill generated by the meeting would have been spoiled by … Continue reading Keir Starmer dares to lecture President Xi on human rights?!

Xi Jinping meets Keir Starmer in Brazil

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held his first in person meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping on November 18, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, being held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The two men had previously held a telephone conversation on August 23. In his opening remarks, borrowing from the … Continue reading Xi Jinping meets Keir Starmer in Brazil

Xi Jinping speaks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

On August 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. What is believed to be the first conversation between the two men took place at Starmer’s request. Having congratulated the British Prime Minister on his recent assumption of office, President Xi told Starmer that the two countries need … Continue reading Xi Jinping speaks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Starmer should develop balanced strategy

In the following article, Grenville Cross dissects the likely foreign policy trajectory and options of Britain’s new Labour government which took office following the July 4 general election.  Regarding the manifesto on which the Labour Party fought the election, he notes that its references to foreign policy are relatively sparse, but that it committed the … Continue reading Starmer should develop balanced strategy

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visits China

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid a visit to China, April 14-15, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Lavrov on April 15 and urged closer and stronger strategic coordination between China and Russia to firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South … Continue reading Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visits China

China and the Iran war: creating an environment for peace

In the following article, which was originally published in the Morning Star, Jenny Clegg addresses some of the frequently raised questions regarding China’s stand and role in the context of the current US-Israeli aggression against Iran. She notes that one should be clear that, “Donald Trump’s strategy has China in its sights. The 2025 US … Continue reading China and the Iran war: creating an environment for peace

The claws of a dying beast: US imperialism’s existential quagmire

As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its second month, a striking vulnerability has emerged that the mainstream media has largely chosen to ignore: the Pentagon’s ability to replenish its rapidly depleting weapons stockpiles is now to a significant degree dependent on China’s rare earth exports, which are essential to everything from jet engine coatings … Continue reading The claws of a dying beast: US imperialism’s existential quagmire

Chinese Embassy in London hosts briefing and discussion on Two Sessions

The Chinese Embassy in London hosted a symposium on March 19 for Ambassador Zheng Zeguang to brief on the recently concluded annual ‘Two Sessions’ – of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – held in Beijing, which he had attended as a CPPCC member, and to exchange views … Continue reading Chinese Embassy in London hosts briefing and discussion on Two Sessions

Stop the War Coalition reaffirms campaigning priorities and highlights heightened danger of war in the Pacific

Several hundred people packed central London’s Hamilton House on Saturday March 14 for the annual conference of Britain’s Stop the War Coalition (StW). Amidst the most dangerous international situation in the lifetime of most if not all of the delegates,  the day’s proceedings represented a powerful, united and militant expression of determination to do everything … Continue reading Stop the War Coalition reaffirms campaigning priorities and highlights heightened danger of war in the Pacific

Marco Rubio and Wang Yi offer vastly contrasting visions of international relations

The two articles collected here, by Paweł Wargan and Sevim Dağdelen, approach the same moment in world politics, arriving at a shared conclusion: the international order is entering a period of profound transition, marked by the decline of Western hegemony and an increasingly open struggle over what comes next. Both writers use the recent Munich … Continue reading Marco Rubio and Wang Yi offer vastly contrasting visions of international relations

The sun has risen in the east – George Galloway’s message to Europe

The following is an interview with George Galloway, former member of the British parliament and leader of the Workers’ Party of Britain, published by the Chinese newspaper Global Times on January 25, focused on the present position and prospects of Europe in geopolitics. Asked first about the reported ‘framework of a deal’ supposedly reached by … Continue reading The sun has risen in the east – George Galloway’s message to Europe

The Jimmy Lai case is none of your business – China rebuffs British interference

China has reacted firmly to the attempts by Britain and a number of other Western countries to interfere in the case of Jimmy Lai. A chief instigator of riots and violent turmoil in Hong Kong in 2019-20, in active collusion with foreign forces, the former proprietor of the now defunct Apple Daily was on, December … Continue reading The Jimmy Lai case is none of your business – China rebuffs British interference

Remembering a shared struggle against Japanese militarism

The Birmingham People’s History Archive (BPHA) organised a day of speeches and film on Saturday December 13 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japanese fascism. Held in the Birmingham and Midland Institute, which houses the archive, it was attended by over 50 people, including academics, trades unionists and members of the city’s … Continue reading Remembering a shared struggle against Japanese militarism

To engage with China, Britain should learn from France and Germany

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech on foreign policy on December 1 at the Lady Mayor’s Banquet at the Guildhall, London. The major part of his speech related to China. Starmer said that the US, the EU and China are the three global giants today, and that the absence of the UK’s engagement with China … Continue reading To engage with China, Britain should learn from France and Germany

Palestine, Venezuela and China, united in the struggle against imperialism

The following is the text of a speech given by Russel Harland, representing Friends of Socialist China’s Britain Committee, at an event held on 15 November at Bolívar Hall in London on the theme Viva Venezuela: stand against fascism, imperialism and war. Russel argues that the world is entering a historic period of crisis and … Continue reading Palestine, Venezuela and China, united in the struggle against imperialism

Trump makes fools of Britain’s China hawks

In this witty and perceptive article, originally published on his Substack, ‘The Rest is Bullshit’, Steve Howell excoriates Britain’s right wing anti-China hawks in politics and the media, arguing that Donald Trump’s positive meeting with President Xi Jinping in the Republic of Korea has exposed their foolishness. Having noted that, “The US and China surprised … Continue reading Trump makes fools of Britain’s China hawks

Red goes green: witnessing the truth of China’s ‘ecological civilisation’

The following article by Morning Star editor Ben Chacko describes the reality of China’s pursuit of ecological civilisation, witnessed during a recent trip to the southwestern province of Yunnan, and contrasts it with the West’s hypocrisy: talking up the need for climate mitigation and adaptation whilst predictably sacrificing environmental regulation for economic growth. Ben notes … Continue reading Red goes green: witnessing the truth of China’s ‘ecological civilisation’