Title page 1

Contents 3

Summary 4

1. Relations under previous governments and Labour party policy in opposition 6

1.1. Relationship under the Conservative government 6

1.2. Labour Party in opposition 7

2. Diplomatic engagement and ministerial visits 9

2.1. Keir Starmer's January 2026 visit to China 9

2.2. Previous visits of senior ministers and officials to China 15

2.3. UK-based diplomatic initiatives 16

2.4. Reactivated and new bilateral economic institutions 17

2.5. Government speeches and comments on China policy 18

2.6. Plans for China's new embassy 20

3. Government reviews and parliamentary scrutiny 24

3.1. June 2025 Strategic Defence Review 24

3.2. June 2025 National Security Strategy 25

3.3. China audit June 2025 26

3.4. Other strategies: Critical minerals and trade 28

3.5. Parliamentary scrutiny of the UK China relationship under the Labour government 29

4. China as a state threat and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme 30

4.1. The National Security Act 2023 and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme 30

5. Analysis and further reading on UK-China relations 32