Beijing didn’t waste a single breath. Within hours of the U.S. and U.K. announcing their new high-level trade partnership, China fired back with a scorching statement—accusing both allies of waging an “economic containment campaign” designed to isolate and provoke.
The new agreement, signed in London by President Biden’s trade envoy and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, aims to strengthen tech supply chains and cut China out of critical sectors. It was hailed by Downing Street as “the most significant Western trade alliance in decades.”
But inside Zhongnanhai, it landed like a slap in the face.
A statement from China’s Foreign Ministry, shared by spokesperson Lin Jian, warned that the West was “pursuing Cold War tactics under the disguise of cooperation” and directly accused the U.S. of trying to sabotage Beijing’s role in global trade.
“We will not allow others to write the rules while excluding us,” Lin said at a fiery press conference, video of which spread rapidly online. “This is not free trade. This is economic manipulation.”
China’s state-run media went even further. A front-page editorial in the Global Times labeled the pact a “militarized trade trap” and accused the U.K. of “becoming America’s obedient vassal.”
The headline from the People’s Daily was simple: “Another Brick in the Wall.”
Former Chinese ambassador to the EU, Wu Hongbo, took to Weibo to say that the U.S. was “dragging Europe into its strategic paranoia,” while calling the U.K. “a useful fool.”
The backlash on Chinese social media was immediate and vicious. Posts flooded Weibo, with thousands mocking Rishi Sunak as “America’s butler in Westminster.”
Sunak defended the deal fiercely during a press conference, saying “we will never apologize for strengthening the U.K.’s economic sovereignty,” and claimed the agreement would bring thousands of jobs to British ports and tech hubs.
But Beijing wasn’t listening.
One segment on CCTV focused entirely on how the agreement would “tighten semiconductor access” and claimed U.S. chip makers had “blacklisted Chinese suppliers under political pressure.” This breakdown was replayed over 20 million times in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is painting the deal as a necessary counterweight to Beijing’s growing influence.
“The stakes are high,” said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “This isn’t about containment—it’s about resilience.”
But critics aren’t buying that. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote that the deal “locks in division at a time when diplomacy is dying.”
The diplomatic fallout didn’t end there. In Brussels, officials expressed concern the agreement could fracture already fragile EU–China relations, especially with France and Germany still entertaining trade talks with Beijing.
Reuters reported that French President Emmanuel Macron privately urged Biden to “consult Europe before redrawing global alliances,” suggesting that Washington may have acted unilaterally.
Back in Beijing, retaliation is already being drafted. China’s Ministry of Commerce is reportedly preparing tariffs on key British exports, including automotive and pharma goods—a threat confirmed by two sources to South China Morning Post.
One viral TikTok video shared by @zhongguodaily shows Chinese college students burning mock U.S. and U.K. flags in protest, chanting “China won’t kneel.” It’s since been removed by moderators but screenshots still circulate widely.
The rift is deepening. And it’s not just political—it’s personal. A leaked memo from China’s National Development and Reform Commission called the deal a “betrayal of long-standing understandings between Beijing and London.” The memo included a directive for state-run banks to quietly reduce GBP holdings.
Financial Times confirmed the memo’s authenticity through a senior official, who warned of “quiet economic consequences” if the U.K. “chooses Washington over wisdom.”
This is no longer just about trade. It’s turning into a full-on diplomatic standoff—with China painting the U.K. as a willing pawn and the U.S. as an economic bully.
And neither side is blinking.
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