Douglas Alexander’s unpublicised trip to talk with counterparts coincides with that of Adm Sir Tony Radakin
In an unpublicised development, two senior UK officials have made concurrent visits to China this week, signalling a nuanced approach to diplomatic and defence relations with Beijing during a time of international tension. Douglas Alexander, the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, is currently in China for a multi-city tour including Beijing, Hainan, and Hong Kong. The trip, which has not been formally announced by either the UK or Chinese governments, aligns with a similarly low-profile visit by Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, marking the first such trip by Britain’s top military officer to China in nearly a decade.
Alexander’s visit reportedly centres on the promotion of British exports and economic cooperation, with a scheduled address at a Chinese consumer expo. A government source emphasised that the trip was pre-arranged and unrelated to escalating trade tensions between China and the United States, or to ongoing negotiations surrounding British Steel and its Chinese owner, Jingye. Officials confirmed there were no meetings planned with Jingye during the visit.
Meanwhile, Radakin met with General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of China’s Central Military Commission, on Wednesday. In a brief statement published on its website, China’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that both sides engaged in “in-depth exchanges” concerning UK-China relations, regional security issues, and military-to-military cooperation.
Despite the UK government’s characterisation of China as posing a “systemic challenge”, British defence officials defended the engagement, stating it is in the national interest to sustain open channels for military dialogue. Radakin reinforced this sentiment in a statement posted on social media platform X, noting that he and his Chinese counterpart “held talks on a range of security issues” and shared the view that responsible nations must maintain open lines of communication amid global instability.
The visits come at a time of heightened global concern over China’s geopolitical actions, particularly in relation to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and its role in supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine through the provision of military components. The discreet nature of these diplomatic and military meetings has raised eyebrows among several UK politicians, particularly those critical of closer engagement with China.
Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith expressed astonishment at the military chief’s visit, calling it “alarming” and accusing the Labour government of “kowtowing to China”. He cited China’s erosion of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong and the arrest of peaceful pro-democracy campaigners as reasons why it should not be treated as a partner.
Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael voiced commercial and strategic concerns, stating: “If China cannot be trusted as a commercial partner, it is difficult to see how they can be trusted militarily.” Baroness Frances D’Souza, a crossbench peer and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan, warned that such visits could undermine the UK’s support for democratic Taiwan, stating, “This drives a hole through any possibility of having a coherent policy.”
The last time a UK Chief of Defence Staff visited China was in 2015, during what was then heralded as a “golden era” in bilateral relations. That year also saw a state visit to the UK by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, since then, relations have significantly cooled, particularly following China’s increasingly assertive policies in Hong Kong and allegations of espionage and cyber-operations against British interests.
Since taking office, the Labour government has advocated for a pragmatic reset of UK-China relations. Senior ministers including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have visited China in recent months in an effort to stabilise economic ties while navigating ongoing security concerns. Reeves has described a long-term strategic relationship with China as being “squarely in our national interest”.
Admiral Radakin also addressed students at the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University, according to reports, defending the international security framework established after the Second World War and underlining the value of global alliances. The backdrop to the UK delegation’s visit is a rapidly evolving global trade landscape. This week, former US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods totalling 145%, prompting swift retaliatory measures from Beijing, which introduced tariffs of up to 84% on US imports. China’s foreign ministry responded by warning that a trade war would ultimately backfire on the United States.
While Alexander and Radakin were in China, Defence Secretary John Healey was co-chairing a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels. The talks focused on maintaining pressure on Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine and planning for a potential “reassurance force” in the event of a future peace agreement. Healey stressed the importance of continued international support for Ukraine, stating: “We cannot jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war.”
Today, the UK is expected to unveil a £450 million package of additional military support for Ukraine, including £350 million earmarked for drones and frontline equipment repairs, with Norway also pledging contributions.
Chancellor Reeves is scheduled to travel to Warsaw on Friday to attend a gathering of European finance ministers. Discussions will centre on defence financing cooperation, with the Treasury highlighting the connection between economic resilience and national security in a shifting geopolitical environment.
Meanwhile, Russia carried out fresh airstrikes on Kyiv earlier in the week, and Ukraine claimed to have captured Chinese nationals allegedly fighting alongside Russian forces. While China’s foreign ministry said it was verifying the claims, it rejected allegations of wider Chinese involvement as “groundless”.
