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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits China in late January. Long regarded as one of the most prominent pro-China leaders in the West, his sudden resignation has drawn strong expressions of regret from Beijing. / Courtesy of Xinhua News Agency

The Chinese government has kept its comments brief regarding the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—who has consistently pursued a pro-China stance since taking office—while emphasizing that the development of bilateral ties must continue.  

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed this stance during a regular press briefing on June 23 when asked about Prime Minister Starmer's resignation, noting, "As this is an internal affair of the UK, China will not comment on it." The spokesperson went on to state, "Both China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies. Advancing a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership serves the fundamental interests of both nations and their peoples, and also fosters global peace, stability, and prosperity."

Furthermore, Guo urged that "both sides should work toward each other, deepening bilateral cooperation and multilateral coordination to jointly maintain the upward trajectory and development of bilateral ties."

Earlier on the previous day (local time), Prime Minister Starmer announced his resignation as both prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. Despite Labour holding a commanding 410 out of 650 seats in the House of Commons, party lawmakers and members had ramped up pressure for a new leader as Labour continued to trail Reform UK by a wide margin in opinion polls. His political standing was further eroded following a crushing defeat in recent local elections.

Since sweeping to power in 2024, Starmer pursued a distinct pro-China policy, seeking to mend ties that had frozen under previous Conservative governments and pushing to strengthen trade relations. This diplomatic pivot culminated in his visit to China this past January—the first by a British leader since 2018—where he held a summit with Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and State President. His trip effectively triggered a rush of EU leaders heading to Beijing shortly after. Having essentially sparked this pro-China shift within Western diplomacy, it is easy to see why Beijing views his departure with such deep regret.

                                                                                                           Hong Soon-do