The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin’s recent meeting with Chinese military officials was officially authorised by His Majesty’s Government. Addressing parliamentary questions from Conservative MP Mark Francois, Defence Minister Luke Pollard clarified that the discussions did not include any reference to the UK military base in the Chagos Islands.
Pollard stated that the meeting was coordinated between the UK’s Ministry of Defence and China’s Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission. “The Chief of the Defence Staff’s meeting was authorised by His Majesty’s Government,” he confirmed.
Focus on security cooperation amid global tensions
During his visit to Beijing, Admiral Radakin met with General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the People’s Liberation Army. Their discussions covered a broad range of global security issues, and both leaders agreed on the need for responsible international behaviour in an increasingly unstable world.
The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to maintaining senior-level defence engagement with China, even as geopolitical tensions escalate across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
First UK Defence Chief visit to China in a decade
Admiral Radakin’s trip marked the first visit by a UK Chief of the Defence Staff to China in ten years. The primary focus of the discussions was the importance of ongoing military-to-military dialogue, ensuring communication channels remain open during times of global uncertainty.
The visit came at a time of rising tensions between China and the United States, fuelled by President Trump’s announcement of new tariffs. Following the visit, Defence Secretary John Healey stressed that Admiral Radakin had firmly conveyed the UK’s commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, amid concerns over the potential use of military force for political gains.
