A cross-party delegation of British lawmakers is set to visit China in mid-May for the first time since 2019. The trip is positioned as a sign of cautious warming of ties, following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing earlier this year, according to two sources familiar with the plans.
The five-day trip will include 12 members of the UK parliament from both the Labour and Conservative parties and is being organised by the Great Britain-China Centre, which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The delegation marks the first parliamentary visit to China since 2019, reflecting tentative diplomatic engagement after years of strained relations.
The visit follows Starmer’s January meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which both sides described as a “reset” in relations.
Ties between London and Beijing have been tense in recent years over human rights concerns, allegations of espionage, and disputes linked to Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
While parliamentary exchanges with China had stalled, UK lawmakers have continued frequent visits to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
China previously imposed sanctions on several British politicians in 2021, including former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, accusing them of spreading “disinformation” over Xinjiang.
Some of those sanctions were lifted earlier this year following Starmer’s visit to China, though restrictions remain in place on certain UK academics, lawyers and organisations.
The latest parliamentary trip comes amid ongoing disputes, including Beijing’s planned mega-embassy in London and renewed allegations of Chinese espionage activity in the UK.
The visit also follows a London court ruling this week that convicted two men of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and China, targeting pro-democracy activists based in Britain.
The case has further complicated efforts to stabilise relations, with the Chinese embassy rejecting the allegations and accusing the UK of fabricating claims.
Despite these tensions, both governments appear to be maintaining cautious diplomatic engagement through limited parliamentary and official exchanges according to analysts.
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The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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The U.S military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday (7 May). Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire, by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on several Iranian cities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wanted to negotiate and make a deal in comments to reporters on Wednesday (6 May). But earlier, he warned Washington would ramp up attacks if no agreement was reached.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador after two men were convicted in a London court of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said on 8 May.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered heavy early losses in local elections on 8 May 2026, as results pointed to significant voter backlash against his Labour government and renewed questions over his leadership just two years after a landslide general election win.
A federal judge on 7 May ruled that the Trump administration’s cancellation of hundreds of humanities grants under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was unconstitutional and amounted to “blatant viewpoint discrimination”.
U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing next week on a two-day visit, his first trip to China in eight years. Delayed for two months by the Iran conflict, Taiwan, industrial matters, and the Strait of Hormuz are likely to dominate the talks.
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