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By Christian Shepherd and Adam Jourdan
BEIJING / SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China warned on Friday that relations between Britain and Britain were threatened unless a British warship sailed near China's southern China islands. trade agreement could now be more difficult.
China was exasperated by HMS Albion, an amphibious warship of 22,000 tons, sailing near the Paracel Islands last month, calling it "provocation". The Paracels are fully occupied by China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
China and Britain, who spoke of a "golden age" of relations, agreed last month to consider the possibility of concluding a post-Brexit free trade agreement which promises an important political victory for the Conservative government.
But the Royal Navy's mission in the South China Sea, one of China's most sensitive issues, risks compromising the relationship.
"Britain's actions were wrong," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying told reporters at a news conference.
"They clearly violated the consensus and the spirit put forward by British leaders that they wanted to build a golden age in their relations with China. on the further development of Sino-British relations. "
Hua added, "We hope Britain can recognize the seriousness of the problem and take steps to rectify the situation." She did not elaborate.
There could be real consequences for Britain, the official China Daily newspaper said in an editorial.
"China and the United Kingdom have agreed to actively explore the possibility of discussing a free trade agreement after Brexit, and any act that undermines China's main interests will only things in place, "the statement added.
Britain has long courted China for a post-Brexit trade deal, although official talks can not begin until its official departure from the European Union next year.
Senior Chinese and British officials are expected to meet in Britain in the autumn for further economic talks led by Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and Finance Minister Philip Hammond.
China's claims in the South China Sea, through which about $ 3 trillion in commercial transactions per boat are made each year, are being challenged by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Britain has no territorial claim in the region.
The China Daily said Britain was trying to "win the favor" with the United States, which is pleading for greater international participation in free navigation operations in the strategic waterway.
"Now that it considers the United States as an economic lifeline after leaving the European Union, the United Kingdom is undoubtedly eager to seize every opportunity to get into the good books of Washington." declared the English-language newspaper.
"FOMENT TROUBLE"
The situation in the South China Sea has stabilized, with the joint efforts of China and the countries of Southeast Asia, said the Ministry of Defense in a statement responding to the report. action of the Royal Navy.
"Some countries outside the region pay no attention and send ships and military planes into the South China Sea to foment problems, creating problems where they do not exist, threatening peace and security. regional stability ".
China has repeatedly denounced what it sees as such interference, usually a message to the United States and its allies to stay out of the maritime dispute.
Adding to the tension, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Britain should stop "gesticulating" about Hong Kong and ingesting it in China's internal affairs, after Britain has published his latest semi-annual report on his former colony.
In the report, Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt spoke of "growing concern over the extent of freedom of expression in Hong Kong, particularly in the context of independence. ", adding that Britain did not think that independence was a realistic or desirable option.
China said the issue of independence had nothing to do with freedom of expression and constituted a serious violation of its constitution and the Hong Kong law.
"Basically, this is not freedom of expression," the ministry said. "The central government has zero tolerance for" Hong Kong independence "and will never let it go.
(Additional report by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING, edited by Simon Cameron-Moore and Clarence Fernandez)
