US President Donald Trump has described Britain’s engagement with China as “very dangerous,” as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Speaking to reporters at the premiere of a documentary about his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, the former president criticized Britain for pursuing economic agreements with China. “Well it’s very dangerous for them to do that,” Trump said.
China’s foreign ministry responded on Friday through spokesman Guo Jiakun, who told reporters that “China is willing to strengthen cooperation with all countries in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win results.”
Starmer’s visit marks the first by a British prime minister since 2018 and comes amid a wave of Western leaders seeking to recalibrate ties with Beijing in what some analysts see as a response to the unpredictability of the United States.
During his trip, Starmer met with Xi and other top officials, signing multiple agreements aimed at boosting trade, investment, and scientific cooperation. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney similarly visited China earlier this month, securing deals on trade and tourism.
Trump, speaking on Thursday, also warned that Canadian business dealings with China were “even more dangerous.” He criticized Canada’s economic performance and cautioned that “you can’t look at China as the answer,” while earlier threatening 100-percent tariffs on Canadian imports if further deals were made—a threat dismissed by Carney as a negotiating tactic.
The remarks from Trump underscore tensions between the US and its allies over engagement with China, highlighting the delicate balance Western leaders face as they navigate trade, security, and geopolitical considerations in the Indo-Pacific region.
