UK shouldn't 'dance to the tune of Americans' on foreign policy: China

Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming said "if the UK government goes as far as to impose sanctions on any individuals in China, China will certainly make a resolute response to it." /BBC

Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming defended his country's position on Hong Kong and Huawei during an interview on the BBC's Sunday politics program The Andrew Marr Show.

Ambassador Liu argued that the national security law for Hong Kong will restore order after months of riots in the special administrative region, adding that Beijing would respond if the UK takes measures against Chinese nationals.

"If the UK government goes as far as to impose sanctions on any individuals in China, China will certainly make a resolute response to it," stated Liu.

03:44

"You saw what happened between China and the United States; they sanctioned Chinese officials, we sanctioned their senators, their officials. I do not want to see this tit-for-tat – like what has happened between China and the U.S. – in China-UK relations."

"The UK should have its own independent foreign policy, rather than dance to the tune of Americans, like what happened to Huawei," Liu said.

In a dramatic U-turn last week, the British government banned the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from developing its 5G wireless network.

The government claimed it could no longer guarantee the "safety" of its deal with Huawei, a claim that Beijing rejects, after the U.S. administration imposed sanctions on the company.

Liu Xiaoming says UK missing the chance to be leading country, warns of 'tit-for-tat' situation

"We are still evaluating the consequences; this is a very bad decision," said Liu.

"When this decision was announced, I said this was a dark day for Huawei, a dark day for China-UK relations, it's an even darker day for the United Kingdom."

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has also been asked about the rising tensions between the two sides over Hong Kong and Huawei.

"We need to be very careful in our deals," said Raab. "We want a positive relationship."

Raab said he will make another statement about the British government's position on Hong Kong in parliament on Monday.