UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought a rapprochement with China since coming to power in July, following years of rising tensions following Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, its approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a wave of alleged cyberattacks and spying operations in Britain. The premier has described his Labour government’s China policy as being based on “three Cs”: Cooperate, challenge and compete.
UK Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin traveled to China this week for discussions with the country’s military, the first such visit by the UK’s most senior military official in a decade.
Radakin held talks in China on Wednesday with Liu Zhenli, the People’s Liberation Army’s chief of joint staff, who is also a member of the powerful Central Military Commission, China’s defense ministry said in a statement. “The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the relations between the two militaries, the international and regional situation and issues of common concern, and communicated on strengthening exchanges and cooperation,” it said.
