David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, is planning to visit China in September, marking a significant diplomatic engagement within the first 100 days of his tenure. The trip, currently under discussion, is intended to signal the UK’s desire to resume high-level dialogue with China. Although the exact date is yet to be confirmed, a spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated, “Foreign secretary travel will be confirmed in the usual way.”
Previous Plans and Recent Engagements
Lammy had originally planned to visit China earlier this summer while Labour was still in opposition, but the trip was postponed due to the general election. Following Labour’s victory, Lammy met with China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on July 26 at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Laos. During this meeting, the FCDO reported that Lammy outlined the UK’s approach to China, emphasizing cooperation where possible, competition where necessary, and challenges where required.
Pressure on Human Rights Issues
As Foreign Secretary, Lammy is expected to face pressure to adopt a firm stance on human rights, particularly concerning China’s treatment of the Uyghur population. In 2023, while serving as Shadow Foreign Secretary, Lammy reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to recognizing the Uyghurs’ plight as genocide. China’s imposition of sanctions on seven UK parliamentarians, including Labour peer Helena Kennedy, for their criticism of China’s human rights record further complicates diplomatic relations.
A Strategic Reassessment of UK-China Relations
The UK government, under Labour, is currently conducting an “audit” of its relations with China. This review aims to enhance the UK’s ability to respond effectively to both the challenges and opportunities presented by China, as outlined in Labour’s manifesto. The last visit to China by a British Foreign Secretary was in August 2023 when James Cleverly made a trip that faced scrutiny from Conservative backbenchers urging a tougher stance on China.
Ruby Osman, a policy adviser at the Tony Blair Institute, noted that major Western nations, despite their differences with Beijing, have continued to engage with China at the highest levels. Osman emphasized that Labour’s challenge will be shifting the mood in Westminster towards recognizing that engagement with China does not necessarily mean agreement. Lammy, she added, has been preparing for greater engagement with China even before Labour’s election win, and there is significant interest from Beijing in resetting relations after a period of strain.