Sir Keir Starmer raised the case of jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai in a landmark meeting with Xi Jinping on Monday, signalling he is prepared to challenge China over human rights abuses.
It comes despite the prime minister’s plans to build a closer relationship with with Beijing after becoming the first British prime minister to meet the Chinese leader in more than half a decade, since Theresa May in 2018.
The prime minister expressed concerns over reports of Mr Lai’s deteriorating health after the activist was seen trembling and looking unwell during a hearing in June.
Mr Lai, who is currently being held in solitary confinement for breaking the Hong Kong government’s national security law, has been held in custody since December 2020 on charges of sedition and collusion with foreign powers.
In a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil, the prime minister told Mr Xi: “I’m very pleased that my foreign secretary and foreign minister Wang met recently to discuss respective concerns including on human rights and parliamentary sanctions, Taiwan, the South China Sea and our shared interest in Hong Kong.
“We are concerned by reports of Jimmy Lai’s deterioration.”
The prime minister said he wanted to engage with China “honestly and frankly on those areas where we have different perspectives”, as well as signalling a desire for greater business co-operation.
He said a strong UK-China relationship is “important for both of our countries” and the international community, proposing a full UK-China meeting in London or Beijing.
Foreign secretary David Lammy visited China in October and pledged that the government would bring consistency to the UK’s relations with the country, as well as suggesting that there had not been sufficient contact between London and Beijing under his predecessors, particularly on human rights issues.
The UK-China relationship has deteriorated in recent years, with concerns over security, human rights and the sanctioning of Westminster parliamentarians souring ties with Beijing.
Speaking at the start of the meeting at the Sheraton Grand hotel, the prime minister said: “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible.
“The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law.”
The Xi meeting is one in a series of discussions the prime minister is expected to have with world leaders at the two-day summit, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East likely to be high on the agenda.
Asked if he wanted a better relationship with Beijing than previous governments ahead of the meeting, Sir Keir said: “Given the size of the economy it is very important that we have a pragmatic and serious relationship and that’s what I intend to pursue.”
However, the move is likely to spark concern from some in Westminster who are sceptical of closer relations with Beijing amid human rights and national security worries.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, who has been sanctioned by Beijing following criticisms of the regime, told The Independent that “those suffering genocide and slave labour under the brutal hands of Xi will feel betrayed” by Sir Keir’s meeting.
“With sanctioned MP’s like me clear that China and its axis of totalitarian states pose a huge threat to us in the free world,” he added.
Sir Iain warned that “trade with China is a one way street”, saying: “They are going to dump electric cars on the UK. They use slave labour and state subsidy to break the WTO rules and have driven out many British and Western companies.
“Starmer will be seen as weak by Xi who will see him as coming to him In a ‘Kow Tow’ begging for trade at a time many middle sized companies are leaving.”
The European Union increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles after an internal investigation concluded last year that state subsidies to domestic carmakers were unfairly undermining European rivals.
Sir Iain added: “Will he tell Xi they have to change their ways?
“No, I am sure he will ignore the world’s greatest threat to the democratic global order, and ignore the support they are giving Russia. What’s the point of British foreign policy if it ignores all that?”
Sir Keir arrived in Rio in the early hours of Monday morning UK time and was greeted by the British ambassador to Brazil Stephanie Al-Qaq.
It is thought that during the summit he will call on leaders to go further and faster in their support for Ukraine and warn of “unfathomable consequences” if Putin succeeds.
While Sir Keir was in the air on his way to the summit, AP reported that President Biden has authorised Ukraine’s use of US-supplied long-range missiles to strike inside Russia for the first time.
In a statement ahead of the summit, the prime minister said: “It is in the UK’s best interests to engage on the global stage – whether that’s building strong and fruitful partnerships with our closest allies or being frank with those whose values differ from our own.
“Close cooperation with the world’s leading economies is vital to secure investment into the UK and create the jobs needed to catalyse growth.
“As we mark 1,000 days since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, I will be doing all I can to bolster Ukraine as they continue to bravely defend their sovereignty.”
The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
