China urges UK to stop 'political manipulation' over lawmaker sanctions

The comments came after British foreign minister James Cleverly earlier this week called China's sanctioning of British parliamentarians "deplorable".

China has urged Britain to stop "political manipulation" and interference in its internal affairs, according to a foreign ministry fax sent to Reuters on Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters)

The comments came after British foreign minister James Cleverly earlier this week called China's sanctioning of British parliamentarians "deplorable".

"The British side unlawfully sanctioned Chinese personnel based on false information in the first place, and China took counter-measures which were entirely justified and reasonable," the ministry said in the fax.