China–United Kingdom relations

China–United Kingdom relations (simplified Chinese: 中英关系; traditional Chinese: 中英關係; pinyin: Zhōng-Yīng guānxì) are the interstate relations between China (with its various governments through history) and the United Kingdom.

In the 19th century, the British Empire established several colonies in China, most prominently Hong Kong, which it gained after British victory in the First Opium War. Relations between the two nations have gone through ups and downs over the course of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland established diplomatic relations on 17 June 1954. The UK and China were on opposing sides during the Cold War, and relations were strained over the issue of Hong Kong. In 1984, both sides signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which eventually led to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Following the conclusion of the Cold War and the handover of Hong Kong, a period known as the "Golden Era" of Sino-British relations began with multiple high-level state visits and bilateral trade and military agreements. This roughly 20-year period came to an abrupt end during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests and the imposition of the Hong Kong national security law. In the years following relations have deteriorated significantly over various security and human rights concerns. The relationship started improving during the premiership of Keir Starmer starting from 2024, particularly following his visit to China in 2026.