When in China the PM is well placed to do something about the big increase in world CO 2 as a third of the CO 2 and much of the growth in CO 2 comes from China. He should ask to see one of the new coal power stations and ask when China is going to follow the UK example of closing all coal stations and blowing them up.
He should say the UK is not going to carry on importing manufactures from China that depend on coal power. It does not help world CO 2 for the UK to shut its car plants to import cars from China where more CO 2 is generated in their manufacture. He should remind the Chinese of the forthcoming carbon tariffs on China products the UK is bringing in.
He should ask to visit a big naval port to see the expansion of modern ships. He should ask why China needs such huge forces.
He should point out that China runs a huge trade surplus with the UK and ask what UK goods China would consider buying. Our exports to China are only 18% of our exports to the USA. Why?
He should worry about coming home empty handed.A 10% increase in our exports to China would only add 0.1% to GDP assuming no increase in imports to offset.Even that looks very unlikely.
There is no growth in UK GDP to be had in China. The UK needs to become a more demanding customer instead of a pathetic pushover.
January 28, 2026
China doesn’t owe us any favours , they don’t have to bend to past colonists. They”ll just nod their head and send us on our way.
January 28, 2026
Correct. China is probably laughing all the way to the bank flooding the world with solar panels
Here in the UK they have a capacity factor of about 12%. So when developers put planning in for say 50mw to power X number if himes the planners should be made aware that output on average is 5.5mw.
China is using coal for its industrial revolution just as we did 200 years ago. It’s cheap, abundant anti energy dense pretty much like the oil in the North Sea which we’re barred from using.
2TK will come back from China empty handed and proclaim victory. Just staying long enough to repack his suitcase for the next freebie.
January 28, 2026
We should start naming the PM Kier
Whicker he spends most time abroad than in this country and the only thing he should be talking to the Chinese about is there fine bone china for drinking tea from anything else leave to the professionals
January 28, 2026
The Chinese will let him talk, and hide their contempt, disdain and amusement.
January 28, 2026
I would imagine he’s going to inspect the Chinese Surveillance State: to include a detailed briefing on their facial recognition infrastructure; communications monitoring of the entire population to identify and suppress dissenters and detailed operation of their Social Credit System.
And agreeing terms for the Chinese to install the infrastructure in the UK for him.
It’s getting harder to distinguish between Communist Xi and Socialist Two-Tier.
January 28, 2026
As a career human rights lawyer who puts international law above all else he should raise that topic in the strongest terms. In fact if he doesn’t it would be grossly hypocritical of him. So he won’t.
January 28, 2026
I really do not hold out much hope of Starmer getting anything from China other than fake warm and courteous welcome.
Starmer has no clue about business or what they need, the only hope is those commercial people in the trade delegation will make something happen for themselves.
As for asking to visit a working coal power station, forget it, they will show him exactly what they want him to see.
He may of course find out that their coal fired power stations have modern filters in place that reduce emissions, unlikely I know, but that would be a smack in the face for blowing up our own. !
China does not need anything from the UK other than low tariffs, and to keep out of the way of Chinese expansion.
What would China want from Starmer, they have already hacked into No10 so already know what goes on here.