UK warned to cool links with China over ‘new cold war’ fears

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott warned that China is weaponising trade (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)

The UK needs to be wary about its relations with China as Beijing embarks on a new cold war, a former Australian prime minister and Government trade adviser has warned.

Tony Abbott, a member of the Board of Trade, said the Asian economic powerhouse was weaponising trade and urged Britain to guard against selling key businesses to the Chinese or even collaborating at higher education level.