US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held “candid? discussions in London with one of America's closest allies on Tuesday, amid growing tensions between the West and China.
Hong Kong and human rights figured high on the agenda as Pompeo met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the UK leader's office said.
The session came just hours after Britain suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and blocked arms sales to the former British territory — angering Beijing — after China imposed a tough new national security law.
Pompeo described his talks in London as being “constructive? and “candid", and ranging "from 5G telecommunication to our negotiations for a US-UK free trade agreement". Pompeo will also meet with senior members of Johnson's Conservative Party who blocked plans to give Chinese telecommunications company Huawei a role in the UK's new high-speed mobile phone network.