Britain summoned China’s ambassador on Tuesday to discuss the treatment of a British journalist employed by the BBC who was beaten by Chinese police while covering a protest in Shanghai.
The incident deepened long-standing diplomatic tensions between Britain and China on issues including human rights, China’s approach to Taiwan, security laws in Hong Kong and Chinese economic policies.
On Sunday, BBC journalist Ed Lawrence was assaulted, arrested and handcuffed while covering protests against Covid-19 lockdown measures. The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the report.
Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest, British Foreign Secretary James Wise said he had instructed the Chinese ambassador to be summoned over the incident.
“It is very important that we protect media freedom. It is at the heart of the UK’s faith system and it is very important that journalists do their jobs without harassment and without fear of attack,” he said.
On Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticized China’s approach to the protests, saying the government had chosen to crack down more instead of listening to its people, prompting a response from the Chinese embassy in London.
On Tuesday, it posted a statement on its website, citing an embassy spokesperson: “The UK is not in a position to pass judgment on China’s Covid policy or other internal matters.”
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