UK-China latest: Trump blasts Starmer’s ‘dangerous’ Xi meeting as minister insists Britain must engage with Beijing

Nigel Farage said he was “very nervous” about China’s activity when asked if he agreed with US President Donald Trump’s remarks.

The Reform UK leader added that Britain should not be doing any trade deals with China until Jimmy Lai is freed.

Asked whether he agreed with Mr Trump, Mr Farage told broadcasters: “Oh I’m very nervous, I’m very, very nervous about the extent to which China has effectively spied on us, stolen many of our industrial secrets.

“I’m worried about the extent to which they’ve infiltrated using money British universities. We must be cautious about the relationship.”

He added that Sir Keir Starmer’s trip showed his mindset is “where we were 10 years ago” and “everything’s changed in that last decade, Keir Starmer hasn’t”.Asked whether he would reverse the agreements Sir Keir has made on his trip, the Reform UK leader said: “I don’t think we should be doing any trade deals until a British citizen, Jimmy Lai, is let out of prison.”

He added: “It is the job of the British Government to stand up and defend (UK citizens).”

• Whisky tariffs: Chinese tariffs on Scotch whisky are to be cut from 10 per cent to 5 per cent – a deal the UK Government said would be worth £250 million to the UK’s economy over the next five years.Visa-free travel: Britons visiting China for less than 30 days will no longer need a visa. It will apply to those travelling to China for business and as tourists, and brings the rules for UK visitors in line with those from 50 other countries including France and Germany.
• Services: Clearer rules and better market access for the UK’s services sector, including financial legal, administration and retail services, have been agreed. China and the UK also agreed to conduct a “feasibility study” towards a binding services deal.
• Small boats: Chinese and UK authorities for the first time will work together and share information aimed at disrupting small boats crossings. Some 60 per cent of the boats which crossed the Channel last year had motors made in China. The agreement will prevent these, as well as dinghies made in China, ending up in the hands of people smugglers.
• Establishing closer relations: Both countries have agreed to work more closely on environmental issues, to resume a “high level security dialogue”, to a host of technical trade arrangements, and closer parliamentary ties.
• Business deals: A delegation of 54 representatives of British businesses and cultural institutions have joined Sir Keir on the trip with a view to make deals with their Chinese counterparts. To that end, Octopus Energy has brokered access to China’s clean energy market, using its British tech.

Sir Keir Starmer isn’t the only world leader who has made efforts to strengthen relations with China in 2026 amid volatile relations with US president Donald Trump.

French president Emmanuel Macron said at the World Economic Forum last week: “China is welcome, but what we need is more Chinese foreign direct investments in Europe, in some key sectors, to contribute to our growth, to transfer some technologies.”

Here are the other leaders who have expressed an interest in strengthening Chinese relations:

• Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin visited on 3 January
• Canadian prime minister Mark Carney visited on 12 January
• Uruguayan president Yamandu Orsi visited on 22 January
• Finnish prime minister Orpo visited on 26 January

The government expects to decide “soon” whether to approve a Chinese firm’s plans to build the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility in Scotland but has to consider security, the trade minister has said.

Sir Chris Bryant said that in matters relating to infrastructure the UK Government has to consider whether an investment is “safe and secure” before coming to a decision.

Ming Yang last autumn announced plans to build the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility in Ardersier near Inverness.

The company said the £1.5 billion project could create 1,500 jobs.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme Sir Chris was asked whether the UK Government is going to approve the project.

He said a final decision has not been made and that the UK has to be “clear eyed” about its relationship with China and has to challenge them on issues such as human rights.

Sir Chris said: “Also everybody will know that there have been issues around espionage in the UK, we need to make sure that all our critical national infrastructure is safe and secure.”

Political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:

The shadow national security minister has said she wouldn’t have gone to China without assurance “Jimmy Lai was coming home with me”.

Sir Keir has faced calls to raise the jailing of Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai on his visit to China this week.

Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said the prime minister’s visit to China telling Beijing the visit will give them “the propaganda coup that you are looking for, without any meaningful returns for our national security”.

When asked what would have constituted a meaningful return, Ms Kearns told Times Radio: “I would have put a precondition that I was not going to go if I was prime minister, unless Jimmy Lai was coming home with me.”