China attacks ‘arrogant and twisted' MPs over British Steel
A spokesman for Beijing's embassy in London criticised the 'anti-China rhetoric' of certain politicians and warned it could damage economic and trade cooperation between Britain and the Communist country.
In a statement, he said British Steel's plan to close its blast furnaces and build electric arc furnaces instead was a 'normal decision' and had only happened as a result of Ed Miliband's net zero plans.
The spokesman warned instead of 'slandering the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises', MPs should be criticising Donald Trump over tariffs.
He said: 'Any words or deeds that politicise or maliciously hype up business issues will undermine the confidence of Chinese business investors in the UK and damage China-UK economic and trade cooperation.'
The comments threaten to deepen a diplomatic rift with Beijing after the Government stepped in to prevent British Steel's Chinese owner Jingye from shutting blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant.
A number of MPs, led by former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have called on the Government to ban China from owning any more critical infrastructure in the UK.
Earlier this week, Sir Iain said: 'This is a country which is committing genocide and where there is slave labour, the forced sterilisation of Uyghur women… They are about to dump steel, electric cars and batteries into our country.'
On Sunday, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said he did not want to see another company from China in control of the steel firm.
He also accused Jingye of trying to shut down the British steel industry following claims from unions the company had cancelled orders for vital raw materials.
Government officials were forced to take control of the Scunthorpe site and ensure vital raw materials were delivered in time to keep the blast furnaces going.
The spat threatens to jeopardise the Government's efforts to strike a new partnership with the Chinese.
Sir Keir Starmer was the first British Prime Minister in six years to meet China's leader Xi Jinping, while Mr Reynolds will visit the country for high-level trade talks later in the year.
The spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said: 'The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians is extremely absurd, reflecting their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset.
He went on to state 'basic facts' about British Steel, which he said undermined the views of Sir Iain and others.
'The Jingye Group is a private Chinese enterprise that makes business investments in the UK on the basis of market principles and conducts operation on its own,' he said.
'It is well-known that British Steel had been losing money for many years before its acquisition by Jingye in 2020 and actually went into compulsory liquidation in 2019.
'After taking over, Jingye put in substantial funding to keep the company afloat to this day. Had it not been for the involvement of this Chinese company, British Steel workers might have already faced the risk of unemployment.'
He said: 'It is understood that under the UK government's net zero strategy, steel companies that use iron ore to make steel must achieve net zero emissions by 2035.
'To that end, British steel companies including British Steel have all negotiated with the government to find a path to decarbonisation transition.'
The spokesman said that 'generally speaking', Chinese companies in the UK have operated in compliance with law and achieved steady progress.
Chinese companies in Britain have contributed over '£115 billion to the UK economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs,' he said.
The spokesman said: 'At a time when the US is wielding the tariff stick against all countries, the UK included, and engaging in unilateral and protectionist trade bullying, those British politicians just keep slandering the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises instead of criticising the United States. What on earth are they up to?'
He added: 'We urge the British government to follow the principles of fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination and to make sure that the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in the UK are protected.
'At the same time, it is hoped that the British government will continue to engage in consultations and negotiations with Jingye to actively seek a solution acceptable to all parties. We will continue to follow the development of this situation.'
'Ban China from owning UK infrastructure'
Earlier this week, Sir Iain called on the Government to bar China from owning any national infrastructure at all, such as nuclear power stations.
He said: 'We cannot have other nations which are not part of the alliance owning Britain's national infrastructure,' he said.
'We cannot continue allowing access to countries which do not play by the rules, and which do not have democracy and the rule of law.
'Not just steel but nuclear, the manufacture of high tech equipment, tanks and engineering, aircraft manufacture.
'All these things have got to be run in the UK and we should only welcome investment from countries we can trust.'
Zengwei An, chief executive of Jingye British Steel, said since his company acquired the business on March 9, 2020 'we have stayed unwavering in our commitment to improving the operation and sustainable development of British Steel'.
He said: 'We have made crucial project investments to ensure British Steel's normal production and operation. Despite unprecedented challenges such as Brexit, Covid-19 and the energy crisis, we have safeguarded over 4,800 jobs and provided high-quality products and services to domestic and international customers, thus contributing to the economic growth of local communities. This is a fact evident to all.
'We express our understanding for the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 the UK Government introduced on 12 April 2025.
'We will engage in active communication with the UK Government to seek a proper solution that ensures a bright future for British Steel. We request that the UK Government respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Jingye as a foreign investor throughout this process.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
22 minutes ago
- Times
China ‘expels' US destroyer after South China Sea stand-off
The Chinese navy has confronted an American destroyer in disputed waters in the South China Sea, the most serious stand-off between the two sides in the area for years. The USS Higgins was sailing with a smaller combat ship, the USS Cincinnati, near the Scarborough Shoal, a group of atolls off the coast of the Philippines where two Chinese warships collided while chasing a Philippine vessel earlier in the week. Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea as falling under its sovereignty for historical reasons, something disputed not only by the Philippines but other countries that border it. 'The US move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea,' the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) southern command said. Scarborough Shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Dao to the Chinese, is one of a number of regular flashpoints in the region. Clashes have become more common as the PLA attempts to 'break out' of Chinese coastal areas to establish itself as the dominant navy in the western Pacific. Asserting its disputed rights to islands, shoals and open sea is a key part of the strategy, which is fiercely resisted by the Philippines, a close US ally. On Monday, the Philippine coastguard released a video it said showed Chinese vessels chasing and firing water cannon at one of its own ships, which was protecting fishermen in the area. They then collided with each other. China said it took measures 'in accordance with international law' to drive the Philippine ship away, but made no mention of the collision. It insists it will try to block all Philippine naval activity in the area. • US threats to Aukus pact put united front against China at risk The Trump administration has given mixed signals over the strength of its commitment to the protection of allies in the Pacific as China increasingly flexes its muscles, particularly over Taiwan. But the US navy itself has been hawkish about the threat from China, and actively attempts to assert free movement for its own and its allies' warships in the South China Sea. 'The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here,' it said. 'Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.' The PLA claimed to have 'expelled' the Higgins, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, from the area. The incident is the first of its type since 2022, when a PLA warship confronted a similar US destroyer, the USS Benfold, near the Paracels, another disputed island chain, and the first near the Scarborough Shoal for six years. Later on Wednesday, a Chinese fighter jet buzzed a Philippine coastguard plane that was carrying journalists as it conducted a surveillance flight over the shoal. • Trump extends deadline for higher tariffs on China by 90 days Commodore Jay Tarriela, a Philippine coastguard spokesman, said the collision, in which one of the Chinese vessels appeared to be damaged, should be a 'learning experience' for Beijing. 'For so many years, we have been reminding them to stop dangerous manoeuvres, to stop risky blockings, to adhere to the collision regulations because if there is a very high chance of miscalculation, this kind of collision incident would happen,' he said.
Metro
24 minutes ago
- Metro
Five things we learned from Trump's meeting with Zelensky ahead of Putin summit
US President Donald Trump has wrapped up a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders two days before his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The call on Wednesday served as the last opportunity – that we know of – for Zelensky and several European heads to speak directly to Trump ahead of his one-on-one with Putin in Alaska on Friday. Zelensky was not invited to join his American and Russian counterparts for the high-profile meeting in Anchorage because it is being held 'at the request of president Putin', White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday. Here are five takeaways from Trump's call with Zelensky and leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO chief Mark Rutte: During a press conference after the call, Zelensky said that 'there should be a ceasefire first, then security guarantees – real security guarantees'. He added that Trump 'expressed his support for that'. The Ukrainian president said that 'sanctions should be strengthened if Russia will not go for a ceasefire in Alaska'. Merz echoed Zelensky's sentiment, saying that a ceasefire must be first in any agreement and that Ukraine needs 'robust guarantees'. A day before the virtual meeting, Trump again pushed for Zelensky to agree to give up territory to Russia as part of a peace deal. Zelensky after the call reaffirmed that he will not surrender the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. He said he has 'no right' to cede his country's land and that 'my position is not changing'. 'Any issue which deals with the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be discussed just like that, without looking at our constitution and the will of our people,' Zelensky said. 'As to our principles, as to our territorial integrity, in the end, will be decided on the level of leaders. Without Ukraine (at the table), it's impossible to achieve.' Zelensky insisted that Putin 'definitely does not want peace' and that 'he wants to occupy Ukraine'. 'Putin cannot fool anyone,' said the Ukrainian president. Zelensky thinks that Putin is 'bluffing' about the impact that increased sanctions have had on Russia. 'Sanctions are hitting Russia's war economy hard,' he said. Starmer said that a peace deal must have security guarantees for Ukraine. 'The Prime Minister was clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering,' said a Downing Street spokesperson. 'International borders must not be changed by force and Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal.' European leaders 'thanked President Trump for his efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed', the Downing Street readout continued. European leaders who joined the call shared positive feedback around it and said that the next move lies with Putin. More Trending 'We are united in pushing to end to this terrible war against (Ukraine) and achieve just and lasting peace,' wrote NATO chief Rutte on social media. 'Appreciate (Trump's) leadership and close coordination with Allies. The ball is now in Putin's court.' EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on social media that the meeting was 'very good' that 'we will remain in close coordination – nobody wants peace more than us, a just and lasting peace'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Home of 'Alligator Alcatraz' says human rights in the UK have worsened MORE: I used to be a Thomas Skinner fan – now he scares me MORE: Can you spot what David Lammy is doing wrong in this picture?
ITV News
24 minutes ago
- ITV News
Manchester-based landmine charity wins global humanitarian prize
A UK-based charity in a 'desperate race' to save people from landmines has won a global humanitarian prize for its work. The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Conrad N Hilton Humanitarian Prize, an annual award which honours a non-profit organisation leading efforts to alleviate human suffering. The group, set up in 1989 in Cockermouth, Cumbria, and now based in Manchester, has worked in more than 70 countries across the world to clear and raise awareness of landmines, as well as being part of international efforts to stop the use of the explosives. Bosses say their work is more important than ever as new and ongoing conflicts have led to a spike in the number of landmine casualties. MAG chief executive Darren Cormack said eight out of 10 people killed or injured by landmines were civilians and 40% were children. He said: 'Predominantly, civilians are most at risk where landmines and unexploded ordnance litter communities. 'They pose an immediate risk to life and limb in contexts where war is ongoing, so Syria, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and we're in a desperate race really to get safety messages to those communities who are at risk, to avoid the risk and to clear the landmines and unexploded ordnance from harm's way.' The group was part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, backed by Princess Diana, which in 1997 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work. Their campaign led to the Ottawa Treaty, an international convention banning landmines, but, some countries are planning to withdraw from the agreement. Mr Cormack said the treaty was 'one of the most successful instruments of international humanitarian law' and the group believed it was 'vitally important' it was maintained. He said: 'We have seen that it is an effective way of ultimately protecting civilians who are at risk many, many years after conflicts have ended. 'Yes, there are pressures right now that some states are certainly under and we're seeing that in Europe and the Baltic states – Poland, Ukraine – who are considering withdrawing. 'Our position is we would regret that and believe it is something that should be upheld.' Executive director of MAG US, Shari Bryan, said: 'As levels of conflict rise across the world and as several countries have expressed intent to exit the Ottawa Treaty amidst escalating conflict in eastern Europe, our work has never been more important." The prize of three million dollars (£2.2 million) will support MAG's work, which has a community-centred approach, with the majority of its 5,500 staff coming from areas affected by conflict. Mr Cormack said: 'Too often we're in a race to find a landmine before a child does and what this funding will enable us is to find different ways of potentially doing what we do.' Peter Laugharn, president and chief executive of the Conrad N Hilton Foundation, said: 'The selection of the Mines Advisory Group as this year's Hilton Humanitarian Prize recipient serves as a reminder that compassion and peace should still be at the top of our global agenda. 'Through its extraordinary efforts to help communities return to safety and prosperity after conflict, the Mines Advisory Group exemplifies the kind of humanitarian excellence our prize has sought to celebrate and inspire over the last three decades.' UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'Landmines kill indiscriminately and remain lethal long after conflicts are over, so I was privileged to see how the Mines Advisory Group are tackling this critical issue first-hand during my visit to Laos last year. 'Their expert teams not only clear landmines but also run life-saving educational programmes for returning communities to reduce the risk of injury or death. 'It is a source of great pride to see a UK-based organisation receive this prestigious prize, and to support their vital work in this time of conflict and geopolitical instability.' A prize ceremony will be held in New York in October.
