Steel spat poses immediate China challenge for UK's new PM Burnham

International relationsBritish Steel nationalization sparks backlash from Jingye, Beijing ministriesBritish Steel's plant in Scunthorpe, northern England, in March 2025: The U.K. government nationalized the operation "to protect the future of steel production" in the country, after its Chinese owner wanted to shut it down. © ReutersKENJI KAWASE and CLEMENT NGUJuly 22, 2026 12:24 JSTTOKYO/LONDON -- The U.K.'s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, faces an early diplomatic test as China lashes out over the nationalization of British Steel and tensions build over Chinese inroads into key industries.