China irked over Williamson 'warship' remark, cancels trade talks with Hammond

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 reported on Thursday.

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.