The United Kingdom and China are preparing to sign a new border security agreement aimed at stopping the supply of small boats and engines that are used by migrant smuggling gangs. The deal comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Beijing, marking his first official trip to China since taking office and the first by a British prime minister in eight years. The agreement is designed to slow down dangerous small boat crossings across the English Channel.
According to the UK government, more than 60 percent of the engines used in small boats crossing the Channel are made in China. Many inflatable boats used in these journeys are also built using parts that come from Chinese factories. Smuggling gangs buy these items through legal trade routes and then use them to transport migrants in overcrowded and unsafe boats, sometimes carrying more than 100 people at once.
Under the new partnership, British and Chinese law enforcement agencies will work together to stop these boats and engines before they reach criminal networks in Europe. This is the first time the two countries will cooperate so closely on tackling the supply chains behind migrant smuggling. Officials say the plan includes sharing intelligence, tracking supply routes, and speaking directly with manufacturers to prevent their products from being misused.
Prime Minister Starmer said that people smuggling is an international crime that crosses many borders, so countries must work together to stop it. He explained that cutting off the supply of boats at the source could help prevent risky sea crossings and save lives. The UK government believes this cooperation will also help restore control over its borders and reduce pressure on its asylum system.
Chinese authorities are also expected to work with the UK on broader serious and organized crime issues. This may include action against the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs. British officials say the agreement is not only about stopping smugglers but also about protecting legal businesses in China whose products are being used for illegal activities without their knowledge.
The UK’s National Crime Agency welcomed the deal, saying it will help them target the business models of smuggling gangs. Officials stressed that these gangs often exploit vulnerable people who are desperate for safety or a better life. By stopping equipment from reaching them, authorities hope to make smuggling operations more difficult and less profitable.
Small boat crossings remain a major political issue in the UK. Government data shows that more than 41,000 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025, making it one of the highest yearly figures recorded. Many of these journeys start in northern France, where smugglers organize departures using equipment sourced from different countries.
The UK says this new deal with China builds on similar partnerships with other countries, including France, Germany, Iraq, and several Western Balkan nations. The government has also worked with Bulgaria to stop boats and equipment from moving through Europe’s borders. British officials believe that only strong international cooperation can weaken the networks behind migrant smuggling and reduce dangerous journeys across the Channel.