UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session at Parliament in London, United Kingdom, on January 21, 2026. Photo: VCG

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK wouldn’t have to choose between the US and China, as he heralded “significant opportunities” for British businesses ahead of his trip to Beijing this week, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. 

Chinese experts said the UK prime minister’s remarks on valuing ties with both the US and China reflect a pragmatic choice, as London increasingly recognizes the China’s growing weight in the global economy, noting that recent US tariff threats underscore the limits of traditional alliances in addressing its economic challenges.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Monday local time, Starmer dismissed questions about whether he was seeking stronger ties with China at the expense of the UK’s relationship with its closest allies. Starmer’s trip to China — the first by a British prime minister in eight years — comes on the heels of a similar delegation by Canadian counterpart Mark Carney that drew fresh tariff threats from US government.

“I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that,” Starmer said in 10 Downing St, Bloomberg reported. “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 defense,” Starmer said, arguing Britain could enjoy the best of both worlds. “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,” he said, according to the report. 

The British leader’s remarks reflect a pragmatic balancing strategy amid the current global landscape, Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

While the “special relationship” with the US remains the cornerstone of UK diplomacy in terms of security, NATO framework and shared values, China’s growing weight in the global economy and its appeal for Britain’s recovery and market expansion make it increasingly difficult for London to overlook the significance of relations with Beijing, according to Jian.

Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Tuesday that China-UK economic and trade cooperation has long had solid foundations and practical conditions, with strong willingness for cooperation on both sides. 

However, he noted that in recent years the UK has taken a more cautious approach toward China, including imposing certain technology restrictions, which have failed to boost its economy and instead weakened its position in global supply chains and international trade. Recent US tariff threats against the UK further show that traditional alliances are unable to resolve Britain’s economic challenges, the expert said. 

Zhou said the UK has increasingly aligned with the US on a number of major issues in recent years, a stance that has had negative repercussions for its own economy and warrants reflection. As some Western countries begin to reassess the importance of independent decision-making, he noted that this has also resonated within British society, though the impact is unlikely to be felt in the short term.

The prime minister is bringing some 60 leaders from companies, universities and cultural institutions during his visit to Beijing and Shanghai, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Jian noted that amid rising tensions, it will not be easy for the UK to maintain a balance between China and the US, expressing hope that London will adopt a more pragmatic approach to advancing bilateral relations, while stressing that the key lies in whether the UK can reduce restrictions and disruptions toward China and gradually rebuild mutual trust to ensure stable ties.

As of press time, China has not officially announced Starmer’s visit. When asked on Monday about reports that Starmer will visit China this week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in response to a media question, “In a turbulent and volatile world, China and the UK as permanent members of the UN Security Council will benefit the world and the two countries themselves by stepping up exchanges and cooperation.”