China has lifted sanctions and travel restrictions that barred certain British Members of Parliament and peers from entering the country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised the issue in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a high-profile visit to Beijing.

The move marks a significant shift in relations between the two governments as the UK seeks to expand strategic dialogue and economic cooperation.

The sanctions, first imposed by Beijing in 2021 in retaliation for UK punitive measures aimed at Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang, had prevented four sitting MPs and two members of the House of Lords from travel and engagement with Chinese counterparts.

Starmer said Friday that the restrictions “no longer apply” and that President Xi had informed him all British parliamentarians are now welcome to visit China, a step he described as constructive in resetting ties.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the affected MPs and peers issued a joint statement underscoring their opposition to using their sanctions as leverage in wider negotiations.

They said they would rather remain sanctioned indefinitely than see their status leveraged to justify lifting UK sanctions on Chinese officials implicated in rights abuses and stressed their continued commitment to raising human rights concerns.

Starmer defended the outcome as evidence of the benefits of engagement, saying leader-to-leader discussions create space to address sensitive issues while pursuing economic and strategic interests.

His visit, the first by a British prime minister to China in eight years, also featured discussions on expanding trade, potential visa facilitation, and cooperation on mutual concerns amid evolving global shifts.

The decision to rescind the travel bans has drawn mixed reactions in Westminster.

Some opposition politicians criticised the timing and context, arguing it sends the wrong signal on human rights accountability.

However, the government has framed the development as part of a broader effort to balance principled dialogue with pragmatic diplomacy, positioning the UK to navigate complex bilateral challenges while pursuing opportunities in trade and international cooperation.

Starmer also indicated that following the rapprochement, a visit by President Xi to the United Kingdom could be welcome, particularly in the context of the 2027 G20 summit that the UK will host.

The move to lift sanctions on British parliamentarians adds momentum to a broader recalibration of UK-China relations as global economic and geopolitical pressures evolve.