Chris Pitt

Starmer's trip to China is the first by a British prime minister in eight years, and it comes just days after his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney was threatened with 100% tariffs by President Trump following his own trip to Beijing.

But Starmer insists he can meet China's President Xi Jinping without angering the White House.

Speaking to Bloomberg, he said, quote, I'm often invited to simply choose between countries.

I don't do that.

Reflecting on a week of turbulent diplomacy with the US, Starmer indicated that the UK will now have to forge closer military links with the EU, as he pointed to what he described as a mature relationship with the US President, adding that the UK navigated last week's challenges with pragmatism and common sense.

In London, Chris Pitt, Bloomberg Radio.

Starmer's trip to China is the first by a British prime minister in eight years.

And it comes just days after his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, was threatened with 100% tariffs by President Trump following his own trip to Beijing.

But Starmer insists he can meet China's President Xi Jinping without angering the White House.

Speaking to Bloomberg, he said, quote, I'm often invited to simply choose between countries.

I don't do that.

Reflecting on a week of turbulent diplomacy with the US, Starmer indicated that the UK will now have to forge closer military links with the EU, as he pointed to what he described as a mature relationship with the US President, adding that the UK navigated last week's challenges with pragmatism and common sense.

In London, Chris Pitt, Bloomberg Radio.

Starmer's trip to China is the first by a British Prime Minister in eight years, and it comes just days after his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney was threatened with 100% tariffs by President Trump following his own trip to Beijing.

But Starmer insists he can meet China's President Xi Jinping without angering the White House.

Speaking to Bloomberg, he said, Reflecting on a week of turbulent diplomacy with the US...

Starmer indicated that the UK will now have to forge closer military links with the EU, as he pointed to what he described as a mature relationship with the US President, adding that the UK navigated last week's challenges with pragmatism and common sense.

In London, Chris Pitt, Bloomberg Radio.

Starmer's trip to China is the first by a British Prime Minister in eight years.

And it comes just days after his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney was threatened with 100% tariffs by President Trump following his own trip to Beijing.