China visit: James Cleverly insists UK is ‘clear eyed’ about relationship with China after landmark meeting

The meeting is the first in China by a senior UK government minister in five years.

It is the first meeting of its kind by a senior UK Government minister in five years and has been criticised as being at odds with Westminster’s previously tough stance on China.

Now foreign secretary James Cleverly has defended meeting Chinese vice-president Han Zheng, saying that doing so has allowed Britain to "re-establish lines of communication" with Beijing.

The apparent slight thawing of relations comes at a time when Britain’s relationship with China has been at an historic low.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, left, and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Human rights issues, as well as China’s support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, espionage threats to the UK and other Western allies, as well as fears over freedom in former British territory Hong Kong, have all resulted in tension between the nations.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned China posed an "epoch defining challenge" to international order – a stark contrast from the “golden era” of Chinese-UK relations heralded by then-prime minister David Cameron in 2015.

Meanwhile, during his campaign to become Tory party leader, Mr Sunak pledged to ban all 30 Confucius Institutes in Britain, which he said would curb the spread of Chinese influence through culture and language programmes. The visit follows similar meetings this year by senior US officials, as well as leaders of the EU, France, Germany and Spain.

Even Mr Sunak himself has appeared to tone down his tough talk against China, describing Mr Cleverly’s meeting as an "entirely sensible" approach. There has been speculation that he could hold talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping at the G20 summit next week.

"It's perfectly possible to engage with China at the same time as being very robust in standing up for our interests and our values," Mr Sunak said.

Two years ago, the Chinese company Huawei was banned from UK's 5G infrastructure citing security concerns, while China also banned five MPs, including former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, accusing them of spreading "lies and disinformation".

Mr Duncan Smith said Mr Cleverly’s meeting with Mr Zheng “smells terribly of appeasement”. Other politicians meanwhile have said they hope Mr Cleverly will set out the UK’s position on difficult topics, including on human rights issues, forcibly enough – and that he will not submit to diluting British opinions.

China is still the UK's fourth largest trading partner, globally.

Speaking after his meeting with Mr Zheng, Mr Cleverly, who is also expected to hold talks with China's foreign affairs minister Wang Yi, said the UK was “clear eyed” about its relationship with China.

“We are clear-eyed about the areas where we have fundamental disagreements with China and I raise those issues when we meet, but I think it is important we also recognise that we have to have a pragmatic sensible working relationship with China because of the issues that affect us all around the globe,” he said. The comments echoed those made ahead of the meeting, when he said China’s co-operation with the West was vital in dealing with problems from environmental issues to nuclear threats.

This meeting appears to mark a turning point in Chinese-UK relations – or at least, an attempt for such a change. How it plays out, ultimately, depends on China.