UK Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin traveled to China this week for discussions with the country’s military, the first such visit by the UK’s most senior military official in a decade.
Radakin held talks in China on Wednesday with Liu Zhenli, the People’s Liberation Army’s chief of joint staff, who is also a member of the powerful Central Military Commission, China’s defense ministry said in a statement. “The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the relations between the two militaries, the international and regional situation and issues of common concern, and communicated on strengthening exchanges and cooperation,” it said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought a rapprochement with China since coming to power in July, following years of rising tensions following Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, its approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a wave of alleged cyberattacks and spying operations in Britain. The premier has described his Labour government’s China policy as being based on “three Cs”: Cooperate, challenge and compete.
Nevertheless, Radakin’s visit comes at a sensitive time, just days after China carried out large-scale military drills around Taiwan and following the Ukrainian capture of two Chinese soldiers.
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the visit, which was first reported by The Times, but declined to comment further. The paper said the last time a British chief of defense staff visited China was in 2015, at a time when the two nations enjoyed warmer ties, with then-Prime Minister David Cameron promising a “golden era” of bilateral relations.
China conducted two days of drills around Taiwan last week, prompting a joint statement from the Group of Seven countries — including the UK — that warned the activity “put at risk global security and prosperity.” Chinese and US defense officials also had their first known formal contact since Donald Trump’s return to the White House last week, where they discussed measures to improve maritime military safety.
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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Tuesday that his nation’s troops troops captured two Chinese citizens fighting for Russia and instructed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to immediately reach out to his counterpart in Beijing about the incident. Western officials say there’s no evidence of state sponsorship of the individuals.
