China cancels trade talks with the UK

A speech by UK defence secretary Gavin Williamson has prompted China to cancel trade talks between the two nations in protest.

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua has cancelled trade talks with Britain's finance minister Philip Hammond after defence secretary Gavin Williamson threatened to deploy a warship in the Pacific, The Sun newspaper reports.

Hu was due to hold trade talks with Hammond this weekend, it said.

The newspaper said Hu cancelled the talks in protest at Williamson's speech on Monday. (