China has warned Britain that ties are at risk unless it takes steps to "rectify" the situation after a British warship sailed close to South China Sea islands claimed by China.
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A major Chinese newspaper also said that sealing a free trade deal between the two countries could now be harder.
China was infuriated by the HMS Albion, a 22,000-tonne amphibious warship, sailing near the Paracel Islands last month, calling it a "provocation".
The Paracels are occupied entirely by China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
China and Britain, which have talked of a "golden era" of relations, agreed last month to look at the possibility of reaching a "top notch" post-Brexit free trade deal that promises an important political win for the UK's conservative government.
But the Royal Navy's mission in the South China Sea, one of China's most sensitive issues, risks undermining the relationship.
"Britain's actions were wrong," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.
"They clearly violated the consensus and spirit put forward by Britain's leadership that they wished to build a golden era in ties with China. This certainly will unfavourably influence the further development of the China-Britain relationship."
Hua added: "We hope that Britain can recognise the severity of the issue and take actions to rectify the situation". She did not elaborate.
There could be real consequences for Britain, the official China Daily newspaper said in an editorial.
"China and the UK had agreed to actively explore the possibility of discussing a free trade agreement after Brexit. Any act that harms China's core interests will only put a spanner in the works," it said.
Britain has long courted China for a post-Brexit trade deal, though any formal talks could not begin until it officially leaves the European Union next year and typically take many years to conclude.
Senior Chinese and British officials are expected to meet in Britain in the autumn for further economic talks led by Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and finance minister Philip Hammond.
China's claims in the South China Sea, through which some $US3 trillion of shipborne trade passes each year, are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Australian Associated Press
