By Peter Dominiczak / The Telegraph

David Cameron is refusing to apologise to the Chinese government for meeting with the Dalai Lama.

In an escalation of the row between China and the UK, Downing Street made it clear that ministers “will decide who they meet and where they meet them”.

Beijing is demanding a public apology after the Prime Minister last year held talks with the Tibetan spiritual leader.

There are fears that the dispute could put at risk Chinese investment in Britain, which was worth £8billion last year. (View full story)