General Query abt visit visa

I m on a long term visa for China which is expiring at the end of next month,

Next year i m taking my India based (Indian passport holders) parents to visit UK through flights from and to China,

my query is that can i apply for my parents visa to the UK NOW first(before i apply for their visitor visa to China) as i want to apply their China visa after i get my Chinese visa extension done around at the end of next month,

My concern is that UKBA office can ask that where is their China visa as they will b flying from China to the UK and also coming back to China from the UK.

Hope i have made myself clear,

Please advise.

Why would the UKBA ask for their Chinese visas as there will be nothing in their application that refers to China? Even if you do casually mention in a letter that they intend to visit China beforehand, it's not relevant to being granted EC for the UK. You can apply for a visit visa now and request a deferred start date of up to three months.

Please don't make multiple posts on the same topic.