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The head of the British army has visited Beijing for the first time in a decade, on a visit announced only by the Chinese government.
General Liu Zhenli, Head of Staff of the Joint Department of China’s Central Military Commission, met for talks with Admiral Sir Tony Radaki, Chief of Defense Staff in the UK in Beijing on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Chinese Defense Ministry.
“Both sides carried out deep exchanges on China-United Kingdom Relations and military-military relations, international and regional situations and issues with common concern, and had communication for strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two military,” the Chinese statement said.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MOD) made no notice of the visit and refused to comment on Thursday beyond its confirmation.
The last time the head of the British army visited China was in 2015, when General Sir Nicholas Houghton made a trip during the so-called “golden era” of Anglo-Kinse relations under the then prime minister of the UK David Cameron.
While bilateral relations became increasingly frozen under later conservative -led administrations, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has increased his engagement with Beijing since winning power last July.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have visited China in recent months, with Starmer expected to visit later this year.
However, some fashion figures privately asked the wisdom of Radakin’s visit in a week in which the US-Kina trade war intensified and while Britain is urgently seeking to negotiate a 10 per cent tariff reduced by US President Donald Trump on UK exports.
UK officials said the trip was planned for months and was not linked to the US in any way.
Matthew Savill, the director of military science at the Royal United Services Institute, a protective and security opinion, said that widespread planning and long direction for such a trip would have a dilemma for the United Kingdom Government in circumstances.
“They will have a difficult decision:“ Do we cancel this or not? “They do not seem to have treated this well in front of communication,” he said.
It was a “bad” result that only the Chinese Ministry of Defense had announced the high -level visit, Savill added, pointing out that the UK officials could have seen it as a “compromise” option to continue traveling, but not to publish it in the British end.
The visit came in front of the carrier of the Prince of the Welsh of the Royal Navy, placing the sail on a group of transport at a few weeks on an eight-month trip to the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.
Twelve other nations, including Norway, Canada and Spain, are supporting the UK-led multinational settlement, which the minor said he emphasized “the UK’s leadership force in the search to support stability in the Indo-Macha”.
Mod has said that the aircraft carrier will carry out exercises with the Japanese army, in addition to joining a 19 place exercise near Australia.
However, the United Kingdom Government has not confirmed whether the carrier strike group will sail through the South China Sea in a navigation freedom exercise, amid concerns about Beijing activities in the area.
Savill said Radaki’s journey to Beijing was probably at least partially drafted “to make sure that no misunderstandings” was held with the Chinese army for the British -led strikers’ strikes.
UK officials said it was in Britain’s interest in maintaining strong military-military communications with China. They added that the government has had strong conversations about the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Religiousness, as well as to avoid the use of military pressure to achieve political goals.
