China demands US stop 'groundless' attacks as trade war tensions surface during Pompeo's Beijing visit

'We believe this has been a direct attack on our mutual trust, and has cast a shadow on China-US relations,' says Beijing's foreign minister

China’s foreign minister demanded the US stopped “groundless criticism” of his country’s policies as American secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s visit to Beijing got off to a frosty start.

Wang Yi accused Donald Trump’s administration of “constantly escalating trade friction” in a “direct attack on our mutual trust”, in unusually pointed remarks in front of journalists.

His comments came at the start of a meeting with Mr Pompeo at the Chinese capital’s Diaoyutai Guest House.

While the pair also exchanged typical diplomatic pleasantries and emphasised the need for cooperation, Mr Wang's airing of grievances underscored the two countries’ worsening relations.

The foreign minister said: “Recently, as the US side has been constantly escalating trade friction toward China, it has also adopted a series of actions on the Taiwan issue that harm China’s rights, and has made groundless criticism of China’s domestic and foreign policies.

“We believe this has been a direct attack on our mutual trust, and has cast a shadow on China-US relations.”

He added: “We demand that the US side stop this kind of mistaken action.”

Last month Mr Trump escalated the two countries' trade war by slapping a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese products worth $200bn (£153bn). Nearly half Chinese imports are now subject to sanctions at a rate which will increase to 25 per cent next year.

China responded by hiking sanctions on US goods.

Mr Pompeo, who was meeting Mr Wang to brief him on his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said there was “fundamental disagreement” between the US and China.

“We have great concerns about the actions that China has taken, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss each of those today because this is an incredibly important relationship,” he added.

A senior US State Department official said the White House still expected cooperation with Beijing on efforts to denuclearise North Korea, whose chief ally is China.

“I would certainly expect so,” they added. “That’s a very important issue and they recognise that and accept that and realise that.”

Mr Pompeo and Mr Wang openly disagreed over which side had called off a bilateral security dialogue that had been due to take place in Beijing this month.

Last week, US vice-president Mike Pence accused China of “malign” efforts to undermine Mr Trump's presidency ahead of next month’s congressional elections.