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Keir Starmer Should Rethink Britain’s China Policy  (James Crabtree, Foreign Policy)
As Keir Starmer begins his first full week in Downing Street as Britain’s new prime minister, his inbox is heavy with foreign-policy challenges, from wars in Ukraine and Gaza to a looming likely second Trump presidency.
High on the new government’s list will also be a more balanced and coherent China strategy to replace the muddle that has marked London’s approach to Beijing over recent years. What began as mercantilist opportunism under Prime Minister David Cameron ended up with ideological belligerence during the brief but disastrous leadership of Liz Truss. More recently, Rishi Sunak seemed simply disinterested. Sunak neither met nor spoke on the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Relations between Beijing and London have been comatose as a result.
Starmer can now put diplomatic ties on a more regular footing. He will have the chance to seek a phone call with Xi—a chance he should take. Labour has then pledged to begin an overhaul of China policy via an “audit” to be launched during its first 100 days in office—one of only a few foreign-policy commitments in its election manifesto. Starmer could also seek a bilateral meeting with Xi at the G-20 summit in Brazil in November. Yet these opportunities to talk to China will be useful only if Britain can first figure out the contours of a more sensible strategy. For starters, that means avoiding the obvious pitfalls China presents to a middle power such as Britain, especially when there is a new leadership at the helm.
Improving ties with Beijing is doable. Relations between the United States and China have ticked up over the last year, albeit from a low base. Indeed, the fact that Washington and Beijing are not currently at diplomatic loggerheads makes it easier for London to fix its own relationship. Australia presents a similar story. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese entered office talking about the need to “stabilize” relations with Beijing. Canberra has since had more regular contact with Beijing, and Albanese last year became the first Australian leader to visit China since 2016.