Britain summoned the Chinese ambassador on Tuesday to discuss the treatment of a British journalist whose employer, the BBC, said he was assaulted by Chinese police while covering a protest in Shanghai.
The incident deepened long-running diplomatic tensions between Britain and China over a range of issues including human rights, China’s approach to Taiwan, Hong Kong’s security laws, and Chinese economic policies.
On Sunday (27th), the BBC said its journalist Ed Lawrence was beaten, arrested and handcuffed while covering protests against COVID-19 restriction measures. China’s foreign ministry questioned the report.
Upon his arrival at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest, British Chancellor James Cleverly said he had ordered the Chinese envoy to be summoned over the incident.
“It is very important that we protect the freedom of the press. It is at the heart of the belief system in the UK, and it is very important that journalists can go about their profession without harassment and without fear of attack,” he said.
Yesterday (28), Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticized China’s approach to the protests, saying that instead of listening to its people, the government has chosen to take more drastic measures.
That prompted a response from the Chinese embassy in London, which released a statement on Tuesday location Attributed to an embassy spokesperson: “The British side is not in a position to pass judgment on China’s anti-coronavirus policy or other internal affairs.”
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