The head of the European Affairs Department of China's Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson on Tuesday and lodged solemn representation over her article on the role of the media.

Last week, the embassy's social media platform published Wilson's article, titled "Do foreign media hate China?" In the story, Wilson said China has a "bias" against foreign media. Citing the latest report from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC), Wilson noted the expulsion of a foreign journalist in 2020 and China's restrictions against foreign media.

The Chinese diplomat said Wilson's story is full of ideological prejudice and double-standards, and called that type of commentary inappropriate for a foreign diplomat.

As UK's highest representative to China, Wilson expressed sympathy in her article to certain media sanctioned for false news report but chose to be blind to admit that foreign countries are holding against Chinese media, the Chinese diplomat said.

The Chinese government and Chinese people don't stand out against foreign media but the malicious attacks against China, the Communist Party of China as well as its political system in the name of "freedom of press" and "freedom of speech," the official said.

"We ask the UK side to reflect on its responsibility and put it in a correct position to make efforts to promote bilateral ties."

When asked about the official meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated China's position, saying Wilson's story deliberately mixed up slander with news supervision.

It showed double standards, Zhao said, whereas retired Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming's published articles were more neutral. 

As Chinese envoy to the UK, Liu never intended to stir up public opinions or attack UK's political system, Zhao said.