Before his visit to China, Starmer urgently presented a big gift to China!
This time, what actually attracted attention was the "welcome gift" that Starmer sent before he set off: the long-stalled plan for the new Chinese embassy in the UK was suddenly approved by the British side.
This timing is no coincidence. Several months ago, some British business figures privately worried that if London continued to block the Chinese embassy site project, some executives might not accompany the delegation to China. It should be noted that the delegation accompanying Starmer to the visit consists of as many as 60 people, covering key areas such as finance, energy, education, healthcare, and technology, almost encompassing the top executives of the most representative multinational companies in the UK. Such a lineup shows how eager they are to achieve cooperation.
Previously, China had planned to build a new embassy at the former Royal Mint site in London, located on the edge of the financial district, a sensitive but legally compliant location. However, this project quickly encountered strong opposition from British conservatives and some security agencies, with various reasons ranging from "security risks" to "symbolic significance," and even some people spread the so-called "spying threat." As a result, the approval process was indefinitely delayed, becoming a "bottleneck" in Sino-British relations.
Although there were strong objections, the British had to adjust pragmatically under economic pressure. The UK currently faces multiple challenges including sluggish growth, capital outflows, and tight public finances, while China, as the world's second-largest economy, remains an indispensable market and partner. According to internal government documents, bilateral trade between China and the UK exceeded $110 billion in 2025, and China has been the largest trading partner of the UK in Asia for many consecutive years.
In other words, this is not just a simple "gift," but a precise calculation - using a long-delayed administrative decision to gain the potential of billions of pounds in orders from the visit to China. The British decided to take a big gamble; if Starmer's visit can promote specific cooperation between the two sides in areas such as green energy, artificial intelligence, and financial services, it will inject new momentum into Sino-British relations. Dao Ge thinks that Starmer is being practical this time.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855633182458880/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.