Trump: UK Playing With Fire by Dealing With China

Trump Warns UK: cozying up to China Is ‘Very Dangerous’ as Starmer Courts Xi

Donald Trump has publicly warned that Britain’s deepening engagement with China is “very dangerous,” directly undercutting Sir Keir Starmer as the Prime Minister pressed ahead with a high-profile visit to Beijing aimed at resetting UK-China relations.

Speaking at the premiere of a documentary about his wife Melania, the US president was asked about Starmer’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and a raft of new economic agreements. Trump did not mince words. “Well it’s very dangerous for them to do that,” he said, as Starmer continued his three-day trip.

The intervention landed just hours after Starmer declared relations with Beijing were in a “good, strong place” following talks at the Great Hall of the People. Addressing the UK-China Business Forum, the Prime Minister praised what he called “very good meetings” and said Britain had made “real progress” in expanding trade and investment.

The visit has already delivered visa-free travel arrangements, lower tariffs on British whisky and a £10.9bn commitment from AstraZeneca to expand manufacturing in China. Agreements on co-operation over organised crime and illegal immigration were also announced.

Business leaders welcomed the reset. British Chamber of Commerce chair Chris Torrens said it “makes sense” for the UK to engage China, noting it remains one of Britain’s largest trading partners. He added that Washington itself is expected to pursue a deal with Beijing later this year — despite Trump’s public warnings to allies.

Trump has taken an increasingly confrontational stance toward Western countries cutting deals with China. Earlier this week he threatened Canada with tariffs after its prime minister engaged Beijing, later saying China ties were “even more dangerous” for Ottawa than London.

Back in Westminster, opposition MPs accused Starmer of sacrificing national security for economic gain. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Prime Minister had “gone to Beijing to kowtow to President Xi,” warning Britain was trading security for “economic crumbs off the Chinese table.”

The US remains the UK’s largest trading partner, with China ranking fourth.

Key Takeaways

• Trump publicly warned that Britain’s China pivot is “very dangerous.”

• Starmer insists UK-China ties are strong as major trade deals are signed.

• Critics accuse the PM of risking national security for economic access.

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SOURCE: BBC