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Beijing fires warning shot as Britain reconsiders China ties
- Concerns grow over role of Huawei and plans for Hong Kong national security law
- Chinese diplomats have not denied reports that it will retaliate if companies find their activities limited
3-MIN READ3-MIN
Relations between China and Britain are fraying amid growing concerns among British politicians about China’s economic influence and Hong Kong.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tougher stance reflects increasing cross-party scepticism, while Chinese diplomats have not contradicted media reports that Beijing would retaliate if Chinese business activities are limited.
Britain is undergoing one its biggest geopolitical shifts in decades as it seeks a post-Brexit agreement with the European Union.
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It will also be watching the result of the US presidential election in November that will define the course of its transatlantic relationship amid growing disenchantment about what the “golden era” in its relationship with China offers.
Apart from putting pressure on Beijing to revoke a plan for national security law in the former British colony – Johnson has said he would offer 3 million Hongkongers a path to British citizenship if the law is passed – Britain is also reviewing its plans to allow Chinese telecoms giant Huawei a role in the country’s 5G network over security concerns, and wants to form a D10 club of democratic partners (the G7 plus Australia, South Korea and India) to develop technology.
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