China to Lift Travel Bans on UK Parliamentarians, Starmer Announces During Landmark Visit

SHANGHAI, Jan 30 (Reuters) – In a notable shift during a high-stakes diplomatic visit, China has moved to lift travel restrictions imposed on several British parliamentarians, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Friday. The decision, conveyed directly by President Xi Jinping, effectively clears the way for the previously sanctioned individuals to enter China.

The announcement was made as Starmer concluded a critical round of talks with Chinese leadership on his four-day visit—the first by a British prime minister since 2016. The trip, framed around "pragmatic engagement," seeks to stabilize a relationship long strained by disputes over espionage allegations, human rights, and trade.

"President Xi confirmed to me that these restrictions no longer apply," Starmer told the BBC. "This means all parliamentarians are free to travel to China. Direct dialogue allows us to address sensitive issues while working towards shared interests."

The sanctions, initially levied in 2021, targeted nine British figures—including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith—accused by Beijing of disseminating "falsehoods" regarding China's policies in the Xinjiang region. The move had effectively barred them from entering China and conducting business with Chinese entities.

A Downing Street spokesperson clarified that the UK government would not reciprocate by removing its own sanctions on Chinese officials linked to Xinjiang. "Our sanctions regime remains separate and is under continual review," the spokesperson noted.

Reaction from the affected parliamentarians was swift and mixed. In a joint statement, several indicated they viewed the potential lifting of bans with caution, wary of being used as diplomatic leverage.

"We would reject any arrangement that treats our personal travel status as a bargaining chip to relieve Chinese officials from accountability," read the statement, endorsed by figures such as Tom Tugendhat, former security minister. "Justice for the Uyghur people must not be compromised for convenience."

The development follows a similar easing last year, when China lifted analogous restrictions on members of the European Parliament and its human rights subcommittee, suggesting a patterned approach to managing tensions with Western legislative bodies.

Analyst Perspective: "This is a calibrated de-escalation," said Dr. Evelyn Reed, a senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. "Beijing is testing whether limited goodwill gestures can encourage a broader recalibration in UK-China relations, without conceding on core principles."

Public Reaction:

• Michael Archer, Political Commentator: "A necessary, if modest, step. Dialogue, however difficult, is preferable to frozen hostility. Starmer’s visit seems to be yielding tangible, if symbolic, outcomes."
• Sarah Chen, Business Consultant: "For the business community, this reduces an unnecessary irritant. It’s a signal that pragmatic channels remain open, which is crucial for long-term economic planning."
• David Forsyth, Human Rights Advocate (sharper tone): "This is pure theatre. Lifting a travel ban while the underlying atrocities continue is an insult. It’s appeasement dressed up as diplomacy, and it shamefully sidelines the victims."
• Priya Sharma, International Relations Scholar: "The divergent responses—from the UK government and the sanctioned MPs themselves—highlight the enduring complexity of this relationship. Human rights and realpolitik continue to collide."

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Writing by Catarina Demony; Editing by Sarah Young)