Britain tellls off China ambassador over BBC reporter’s beating

BRITAIN has summoned China’s ambassador for a ticking off after police beat up a BBC reporter.

The Foreign Office yesterday demanded that Zheng Zeguang meet officials.

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A spokesman said that the move was “to make clear the unacceptable and unwarranted nature of these actions”.

Edward Lawrence was attacked by police while covering Covid lockdown protests in Shanghai.

It came as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak angered some Tory MPs by toning down his views on China.

In a speech on Monday, Mr Sunak said the “golden era” of relations was over, as he vowed to “evolve” the UK’s stance towards the super power.

But in July, while campaigning for the Tory leadership Mr Sunak claimed China was the largest threat we faced globally.

Yesterday, Tory MP Bob Seely pulled him up, saying: “We have to recognise a systemic threat.

“And I’m afraid to say people who don’t do that, I think are dangerously complacent.”

A Foreign Office source said: “The Chinese ambassador has been called to the FCDO. We have made it clear this behaviour by the Chinese authorities is completely unacceptable”.

Meanwhile a promised defence policy overhaul might not appear until the spring, Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said.

She suggested the delay was due to crunch Budget talks over future spending in March.