UK PM Announces China Lifts Sanctions on Six British Parliamentarians Amid Thawing Ties

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- In a significant diplomatic shift, China has lifted sanctions on six British parliamentarians, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Friday from Beijing. The decision, which revokes travel bans imposed in 2021, comes as both nations seek to mend relations strained by allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Starmer, who raised the issue directly with Chinese officials during his visit, stated the sanctions were "immediately lifted" following his discussions. "The Chinese response was clear: these restrictions no longer apply," he told reporters. The Prime Minister added that President Xi Jinping had extended a welcome to all British MPs to visit China.

The originally sanctioned group included nine individuals—five Conservative MPs and two members of the House of Lords—targeted after they criticized China's policies toward the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang. While six have now been delisted, sanctions against the remaining three are believed to stay in effect.

Analysts view the move as a calibrated gesture from Beijing, aimed at fostering goodwill with the new UK government while isolating more vocal critics. The Uyghur issue remains a persistent flashpoint; the U.S. State Department and other bodies have repeatedly accused China of widespread rights violations, charges Beijing denies.

Starmer framed the development as a victory for his government's "direct and pragmatic" diplomacy, suggesting it could pave the way for broader cooperation, including a potential visit by President Xi to the UK for the 2027 G20 summit.

However, reaction from the formerly sanctioned parliamentarians has been muted. Several stated they took "no comfort" in the partial lifting, vowing to continue speaking out on Xinjiang. "This selective delisting is a classic divide-and-rule tactic," said one Conservative MP who wished to remain anonymous. "Our concern was never about our travel privileges, but about the ongoing suffering of the Uyghur people."

Voices from the Public:

David Chen, Political Analyst in London: "This is a predictable, incremental step in diplomacy. China is testing the waters with the Starmer government, offering a modest concession to encourage a broader reset in trade and dialogue. The substance of the human rights disagreements remains entirely unresolved."

Sarah Pendleton, Human Rights Advocate: "It's utterly shameful. The Prime Minister is touting this as a success while people in Xinjiang still live under a system of mass surveillance and repression. Lifting sanctions on a few MPs doesn't erase the crimes against humanity. This is pure realpolitik at the expense of conscience."

Rajiv Mehta, International Relations Professor: "The move is strategically significant. It creates a distinction between the UK government and backbench critics, allowing Beijing to engage with London while dismissing parliamentary dissent as fringe activism. The long-term impact on UK-China trade negotiations will be the real metric to watch."

Margaret Ho, Business Consultant: "Finally, a sign of mature statecraft. Constant confrontation gets us nowhere. This opens a door for much-needed stability in economic relations. We should engage critically but constructively, and this is a start."