Beijing dismisses ‘irresponsible talk’ after report Liz Truss plans to declare China a threat
- British foreign secretary may also reopen review of diplomatic and defence priorities if she becomes prime minister, according to The Times
- Chinese foreign ministry spokesman says UK politicians should ‘stop talking about China at every turn and promoting the so-called China threat’
Truss also plans to reopen a review setting out Britain’s diplomatic and defence priorities, according to The Times. China would be given a similar status to Russia – which the review calls an “acute threat” – if Truss goes ahead with the move, the report on Monday said, citing her allies.
“I would like to suggest that individual British politicians stop talking about China at every turn and promoting the so-called China threat theory,” Zhao told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing. “That is irresponsible talk and it will not solve Britain’s own problems.”
It would be the first time Britain has declared China a threat, and the report suggested it was aimed at reining in efforts by the Treasury to boost economic ties with Beijing. Truss’ leadership rival Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor, had come close to signing trade agreements to make the United Kingdom the “market of choice” for Chinese companies, The Times reported earlier.