Panel: Why are US allies making nice with China?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is the latest leader of a US ally to visit China in pursuit of renewed ties. He says it is vital to build a more sophisticated relationship with China. Apart from Starmer, China has hosted leaders of South Korea, Canada, Finland, and Ireland since the start of 2026. All these countries have been hit by Washington’s so-called reciprocal trade tariffs over the past year, and a few have found themselves at odds with US President Donald Trump over his desire to take control of Greenland. Why are some of Washington’s closest allies looking to China for reliable relations? Host Ding Heng is joined by Muhammad Ali Nasir, Professor of Economics at the University of Leeds in Britain; Liang Linlin, Director of Communication and Research with China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union; Professor Cui Hongjian from Beijing Foreign Studies University’s Academy of Regional and Global Governance.