[By GuanchaNet Qi Qian] According to reports by The Guardian and The Times of the UK on April 10, sources within the British government revealed that this week, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade Douglas Alexander and Chief of the Defence Staff of the British Armed Forces Tony Radakin made undisclosed visits to China simultaneously. Among them, Radakin is the first Chief of the Defence Staff of the UK to visit China in nearly a decade.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense confirmed Radakin's visit to China, stating that both sides "communicated on strengthening military exchanges and cooperation."
The report noted that amid US President Donald Trump's initiation of global trade disputes, Alexander recently visited Beijing, with plans to also visit Hainan and Hong Kong. However, neither the Chinese nor the British official side has publicly disclosed Alexander's trip to China.
A source from the British government stated that Alexander's visit was pre-planned and unrelated to Trump's tariff policies. The British business department responded that Alexander's visit aimed to promote British exports and he would deliver a speech at the China International Consumer Products Expo. It was introduced that the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo will be held in Hainan from April 13 to 18.
During Alexander's visit to China, Radakin also made an unannounced visit to China. According to the message from the website of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, on April 9, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and General Zhang Qingli of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission held talks with来访的英国国防参谋长Radakin. Both sides had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations between the two countries, regional and international situations, and issues of common concern, and communicated on strengthening military exchanges and cooperation.
British Trade Policy Minister Douglas Alexander and Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin
On the 10th, Radakin posted on his social media X account that both sides "agreed that in a turbulent world, the two countries must play their roles as responsible major powers with global interests, while contemplating the importance of military communication."
Screenshot of Radakin's post
The Guardian reported that Radakin is the first Chief of the Defence Staff of the UK to visit China since 2015. At that time, Sino-British relations were at their "golden era," and former Chief of the Defence Staff Nicholas Houghton visited China. Prior to that, three Chinese naval ships visited Portsmouth.
However, afterward, the British government repeatedly manipulated the Hong Kong issue and followed the United States in suppressing Chinese enterprises, leading to continuous deterioration of bilateral relations.
The Labour Party government led by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has sought reconciliation in Sino-British relations since taking office last year. Previously, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves have successively visited China.
According to the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during her visit in January, Reeves said that the resumption of economic and financial dialogue between the UK and China after nearly six years was of great significance. The UK values its development of relations with China and wishes to strengthen candid dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with China to promote economic development in each country.
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