The UK’s relationship with China, the world’s second largest economy and most populous country, has worsened.
The countries have fallen out over issues including Hong Kong, tech giant Huawei and alleged human rights abuses against China’s Uighur ethnic group.
Why the UK and China disagree on Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a former British colony, which was handed back to China in 1997.
But before Hong Kong was returned, the UK and China made an agreement to introduce “one country, two systems”.
Media captionTea, drugs and war: Hong Kong’s British history explained
It was agreed that Hong Kong’s capitalist system, which was different to China’s communist model, would continue.
It also meant Hong Kong has its own legal system and borders, and rights such as freedom of assembly, free speech and freedom of the press are protected.
It is one of the few places in Chinese territory where people have been able to mark the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where the military opened fire on unarmed protesters in Beijing.
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Image caption
A protestor waving the US and Hong Kong colonial-era flags
The agreement signed in 1984 was set to last until 2047.
But the UK says this agreement – known as the Joint Declaration – is under threat because the territory has passed a new law that gives China sweeping new controls over the people of Hong Kong.
The new law came into effect on the 30 June following months of mass protests.
The UK also has an interest in Hong Kong because 300,000 UK nationals live there.
What else has happened?
The UK government is set to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
At present, the UK could ask the authorities there to hand over someone suspected of a crime in the UK – and vice-versa. But there are concerns that under the new security law in Hong Kong, suspects could be sent to China.
The Chinese government has accused the UK of “brutal meddling” in its domestic affairs.
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also pledged to offer three million Hong Kong residents the chance to settle in the UK They could ultimately apply for citizenship.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said this offer meant the UK was breaking its own promises, as well as international laws.
“The UK government keeps making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs,” ambassador Liu Xiaoming said.
“We want to be your friend. We want to be your partner. But if you want to make China a hostile country, you will have to bear the consequences.”
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China’s new law: Why is Hong Kong worried?
Why is Huawei being banned from the UK’s 5G network?
Has the UK banned Chinese tech firm Huawei?
Huawei is a Chinese tech company and is the second largest provider of smartphones in the world.
Many countries were considering using Huawei to build new 5G networks to provide faster internet. But there are concerns that the Chinese government could use the company to spy on foreign countries.
The UK government has ordered the removal of all Huawei kit from 5G networks by 2027.
It will also ban mobile providers from buying new Huawei 5G equipment by the end of 2020.
Other countries, including the US, Australia and New Zealand, have taken similar measures.
Huawei maintains it has never been asked to spy.
UK criticises Uighur abuses
Uighur people are a mostly Muslim ethnic group in China’s Xinjiang province in the far-west of the country.
There are widespread reports that the group are being imprisoned and persecuted for their way of life.
Media captionChina’s ambassador Liu Xiaoming: “There is no such concentration camp in Xinjiang”
The UK government has become more vocal about the issue, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accusing China of “gross and egregious” abuses.
Liu Xiaoming, China’s UK ambassador, dismissed talk of concentration camps as “fake”.
