China is reviewing its sanctions on UK parliamentarians imposed over Xinjiang criticism, amid high-level diplomatic talks and efforts to rebuild fractured ties with the new British government.
Relations between the United Kingdom and China appear to be entering a new phase of cautious cooperation, with Beijing reportedly considering lifting sanctions it imposed on British parliamentarians in 2021. The move, if confirmed, would mark a symbolic step towards easing years of diplomatic friction triggered by criticism of China’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
According to two UK government sources cited by The Guardian, the Chinese government is reviewing its retaliatory sanctions against nine UK individuals and several organisations. The sanctions were imposed in response to the UK’s vocal condemnation of Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, which London and several international bodies have described as constituting serious human rights violations.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London, commenting to The Guardian, said: “China has always attached importance to developing relations with the UK. Currently, UK-China relations are showing a positive momentum.”
They added that increased “exchanges and dialogues” between the two nations would help enhance mutual trust and cooperation, underscoring a desire for improved practical ties after a prolonged period of strained diplomatic discourse.
Sanctions cast a long shadow
The sanctions imposed in 2021 targeted five Conservative MPs – Iain Duncan Smith, Tom Tugendhat, Nusrat Ghani, Neil O’Brien and Tim Loughton – along with two peers from the House of Lords, David Alton and Helena Kennedy. Also sanctioned were academic Jo Smith Finley and international human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice KC.
These individuals were accused by Beijing of spreading “lies and disinformation” about China’s actions in Xinjiang. The sanctions included travel bans to China, Hong Kong, and Macau, asset freezes, and prohibitions on Chinese entities engaging with the listed individuals. They came as retaliation for the UK’s own sanctions on Chinese officials linked to abuses in the region.
Despite the reported review, it remains unclear whether all sanctions will be lifted or whether a selective rollback is being considered. A UK official involved in the discussions indicated that the British government has no intention of reversing its own measures, reinforcing London’s position on human rights accountability.
A flurry of diplomatic activity
The thawing rhetoric follows a recent flurry of high-level diplomatic activity. Last week, China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao visited London for trade talks, engaging with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. In parallel, Liu Jianchao, a top Chinese Communist Party diplomat, held meetings with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.
Though the UK government did not publicise Liu’s visit, it included a closed-door event with British MPs, organised by the Great Britain China Centre, where the issue of sanctions was raised several times. Liu, who has been linked to China’s controversial overseas operations targeting dissidents, was a controversial figure to host. Nevertheless, the meetings underscore growing backchannel efforts to reset the tone of UK-China relations.
In an earlier diplomatic move in April, China lifted sanctions on five European Parliament members and a subcommittee on human rights, also targeted in 2021. That decision was widely seen as a gesture to restart trade discussions with Brussels, and the UK may now be witnessing a similar diplomatic overture.
Spy fears over new Chinese embassy
The UK government has committed to a detailed review of security concerns surrounding China’s proposed mega-embassy near London’s financial hub, amid warnings it could jeopardise ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.
The issue—revived after lobbying by China’s president—has emerged as a sensitive point in UK–US discussions, the Guardian reported. US authorities, including the White House and national security officials, have expressed alarm about the embassy’s proximity to critical infrastructure such as communication cables and data centres.
The intended site at Royal Mint Court, near the City and Canary Wharf, lies adjacent to sensitive data cables and financial institutions. Intelligence experts, including former MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove, warned it could provide Chinese intelligence services undue access to secure communications. US Senator John Moolenaar described it as “unacceptable risk” and “strategic overreach” by Beijing.
Media reported that President Donald Trump’s administration has explicitly cautioned Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to approve the embassy plan, warning it may undermine intelligence-sharing through the Five Eyes alliance. The embassy issue is now tied to an impending US-UK trade deal: the US has set a July 9 deadline for resolving concerns not only around the steel sector but also national security issues linked to China, suggesting that failure to address them could delay the deal.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasised that the government will “assiduously” address any security questions during the embassy’s planning review. He stressed that handling such infrastructure matters is routine in UK planning processes, and any raised concerns would receive a “fulsome response”
The government also referenced its intelligence-sharing obligations under the Five Eyes alliance, reassuring allies that security and mitigation would guide any final decision.
