The United Kingdom’s strategic reorientation toward the Asia-Pacific is no longer a matter of aspiration; it is becoming a defining feature of British foreign and economic policy in the post-Brexit era. While London has spoken for years about becoming a more “Global Britain,” recent developments suggest a sharper, more deliberate pivot toward the world’s most dynamic economic region. With Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this month, the UK’s engagement with Asia-Pacific powers is entering a more consequential phase-one driven as much by economic necessity as by geopolitics.

Since leaving the European Union, Britain has faced a structural challenge: how to compensate for reduced frictionless access to its largest historical trading partner while maintaining its status as a globally competitive, outward-looking economy. The Asia-Pacific region, home to fast-growing markets, expanding middle classes, and a rising share of global GDP, has emerged as a logical focal point. What is different now is the scale and intensity of UK engagement, which increasingly reflects a recognition that the region is not merely an adjunct to European or transatlantic policy, but a central pillar of Britain’s long-term strategy.

Starmer’s anticipated visit to China is emblematic of this shift. It will be his first trip to Beijing since assuming office and signals a pragmatic recalibration of relations after several years of strain. UK-China ties cooled markedly following the COVID-19 pandemic, disputes over Hong Kong, and growing concerns around technology and national security. Yet economic realities are hard to ignore. China remains the world’s second-largest economy and a crucial market for UK exports ranging from financial services and education to luxury goods and life sciences. London has been clear that engagement with Beijing will be neither uncritical nor naïve, but the willingness to re-engage underscores Britain’s broader Asia-Pacific ambition.

This outreach to China builds........

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