A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in the wake of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as several pro-democracy activists have been jailed in Hong Kong.

The move to jail the activists, a demonstration of China's continued crackdown on dissent, has raised eyebrows and sparked outrage among human rights advocates and supporters of democracy globally.

Prime Minister Starmer, however, has shown no sign of backing down from his decision to engage with the Chinese leader, citing the need for 'pragmatic' diplomacy. But is this pragmatic engagement merely a thinly veiled betrayal of the democratic values that the UK holds dear?

Many are calling foul, arguing that the Prime Minister's meeting with Xi Jinping, particularly in the wake of these arrests, constitutes a tacit endorsement of China's repressive actions.

The pro-democracy activists, who have been campaigning for greater autonomy and human rights in Hong Kong, have become the latest victims of China's sustained clampdown on dissent. The activists, whose names have not been disclosed, were reportedly arrested and charged under the draconian National Security Law, brought into effect in 2020.

This law, which grants the Chinese government sweeping powers to suppress dissent, has been widely criticized by human rights groups and democratic nations as a thinly veiled attempt to snuff out opposition in Hong Kong.

In a bold move, PM Starmer has refused to back down, stating that engagement with China was essential to securing UK interests.

'We must be pragmatic in our approach to China,' he said. 'This doesn't mean we condone or support their actions, but we recognize the reality of the situation and the need to engage in constructive dialogue.'

However, critics argue that this kind of 'pragmatic engagement' only serves to legitimize China's authoritarian actions and ultimately undermines the values of democracy and human rights that the UK claims to uphold.

At the heart of this controversy lies a fundamental question: what price is the UK willing to pay for economic cooperation with China?

One thing is clear: the jailing of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong has cast a dark shadow over PM Starmer's claims of 'pragmatic' diplomacy, and the international community will be watching closely to see if the UK will continue to stand by its values or sacrifice them on the altar of economic expedience.