The UK government has hit back at suggestions the tariff agreement it reached with the US last week could be damaging to China.
It said there was "no such thing as a veto on Chinese investment" in the deal.
The UK-US agreement rowed back on big hikes in tariffs on metals and cars imposed by President Donald Trump, but it also included conditions requiring the UK to "promptly meet" US demands on the "security of the supply chains" of steel and aluminium products exported to America.
Beijing fears this could see it being excluded from supplying US-bound goods to the UK, telling the Financial Times it was a "basic principle" that bilateral trade deals should not target other countries.
At a regular press conference on Tuesday China's foreign ministry spokesperson was asked about the UK's trade agreements with the US and India.
Lin Jian said: "As for the trade agreement… between the UK and relevant countries, I would like to point out that cooperation between countries should not target or harm the interests of third parties."