This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/16/china-embassy-uk-politicians-jingye-british-steel-blast-furnaces

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
China accuses UK politicians of ‘arrogance’ in British Steel row China accuses UK politicians of ‘arrogance’ in British Steel row
(about 4 hours later)
Embassy criticises ‘slandering’ of Chinese government and defends Jingye over furnaces disputeEmbassy criticises ‘slandering’ of Chinese government and defends Jingye over furnaces dispute
China has accused UK politicians of “arrogance, ignorance and a twisted mindset” as it defended British Steel’s owner, Jingye, after a barrage of criticism over the narrowly averted shutdown of its blast furnaces.China has accused UK politicians of “arrogance, ignorance and a twisted mindset” as it defended British Steel’s owner, Jingye, after a barrage of criticism over the narrowly averted shutdown of its blast furnaces.
Beijing’s embassy to the UK accused unspecified British public figures of slandering China’s government and businesses, in comments published on Wednesday on its website.Beijing’s embassy to the UK accused unspecified British public figures of slandering China’s government and businesses, in comments published on Wednesday on its website.
It followed criticism of the actions of Jingye, British Steel’s Chinese owner since 2020, by the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds. Reynolds accused Jingye of not acting in good faith after it threatened to shut down British Steel’s furnaces at Scunthorpe within days, with the loss of 2,700 jobs.It followed criticism of the actions of Jingye, British Steel’s Chinese owner since 2020, by the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds. Reynolds accused Jingye of not acting in good faith after it threatened to shut down British Steel’s furnaces at Scunthorpe within days, with the loss of 2,700 jobs.
The government stepped in on Saturday to avoid the shutdowns with emergency legislation to take control of British Steel.The government stepped in on Saturday to avoid the shutdowns with emergency legislation to take control of British Steel.
In its first public comments since the government stepped in, Jingye said on Wednesday that it “request[s] that the UK government respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Jingye as a foreign investor throughout this process”.
In a statement provided to the Financial Times, Jingye said it would “seek a proper solution that ensures a bright future for British Steel”, and added that it had previously safeguarded jobs and made investments in the plant.
The dispute over the future of the Scunthorpe furnaces has threatened to worsen the UK’s already troubled relationship with China, even as the Labour government seeks to boost inward investment.The dispute over the future of the Scunthorpe furnaces has threatened to worsen the UK’s already troubled relationship with China, even as the Labour government seeks to boost inward investment.
China’s embassy said politicians objecting to the country’s involvement in the UK steel sector “took the opportunity to attack all Chinese companies and the Chinese government”, after a warning by the country’s foreign ministry earlier on Monday against “politicising” the situation.China’s embassy said politicians objecting to the country’s involvement in the UK steel sector “took the opportunity to attack all Chinese companies and the Chinese government”, after a warning by the country’s foreign ministry earlier on Monday against “politicising” the situation.
In an unusual question-and-answer format, the embassy wrote: “The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians is extremely absurd, reflecting their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset.”In an unusual question-and-answer format, the embassy wrote: “The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians is extremely absurd, reflecting their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset.”
Jingye was approached by the Conservative government in 2019 to take over British Steel after its previous owner, the private equity firm Greybull Capital, walked away. British Steel has lost more than £350m since then. Jingye said last month it would close the blast furnaces, and it turned down an offer of £500m in UK government support to switch from the polluting blast furnaces to cleaner electric arc furnaces.Jingye was approached by the Conservative government in 2019 to take over British Steel after its previous owner, the private equity firm Greybull Capital, walked away. British Steel has lost more than £350m since then. Jingye said last month it would close the blast furnaces, and it turned down an offer of £500m in UK government support to switch from the polluting blast furnaces to cleaner electric arc furnaces.
Reynolds said the UK had “got it wrong in the past” about allowing Chinese investment in strategically important industries such as steel, and highlighted the influence of the Chinese government on private companies. “I wouldn’t personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector,” he said on Sunday.Reynolds said the UK had “got it wrong in the past” about allowing Chinese investment in strategically important industries such as steel, and highlighted the influence of the Chinese government on private companies. “I wouldn’t personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector,” he said on Sunday.
However, the British government has been sending mixed messages on Chinese investment. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, visited China in January to try to drum up investment, and Reynolds is due to visit the country later this year, despite his criticisms.
Sign up to Business TodaySign up to Business Today
Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning
after newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
However, the British government has been sending mixed messages on Chinese investment. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, visited China in January to try to drum up investment, and Reynolds is due to visit the country later this year, despite his criticisms.
The embassy credited Jingye with saving workers’ jobs in 2020 and said it was “a normal decision” by the company to close the blast furnaces, adding that the dispute could hit Chinese investment in the UK. It contrasted the treatment of China with the alleged lack of criticism of Donald Trump’s tariffs. The embassy wrote: “What on earth are they up to?”The embassy credited Jingye with saving workers’ jobs in 2020 and said it was “a normal decision” by the company to close the blast furnaces, adding that the dispute could hit Chinese investment in the UK. It contrasted the treatment of China with the alleged lack of criticism of Donald Trump’s tariffs. The embassy wrote: “What on earth are they up to?”
“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,” it added.“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,” it added.
The UK’s Department for Business and Trade was approached for comment. A UK government spokesperson said: “We will take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests.
“We will continue to support UK business to engage with the second largest economy in the world, while being clear-eyed to any risks and ensuring security and resilience.”