China has accused Britain and the US of starting a “new Cold War” with Beijing.
The claim came after Boris Johnson ’s U-turn which banned Chinese tech giant Huawei from involvement in building the UK’s 5G network.
Other flashpoints include unrest in Hong Kong and growing military tensions in the South China Sea, with the Royal Navy considering sending aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region next year.
China’s ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, said: “People say China is becoming very aggressive. That’s totally wrong.
"It’s Western countries, headed by United States, they started this... new Cold War on China. We do not provoke but once provoked we have to make a response.”
He accused Britain of “dancing to America’s tune” over claims Donald Trump pushed the PM into the Huawei U-turn.
Mr Xiaoming told the BBC: “We are still evaluating the consequences.” It came as Chinese social media giant TikTok reportedly axed plans for a global HQ in Britain which would have created 3,000 jobs.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is due to make a Commons statement today on Hong Kong, where Beijing has imposed a new security law.
China is also allegedly guilty of human rights abuses, such as forced sterilisation, against Uighur Muslims. Footage seemingly shows dozens of shackled and blindfolded Uighur Muslim prisoners being herded on to trains in China.
Mr Trump has also blasted Beijing over Covid-19, which is thought to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
