Flying from London UK to Osaka via Shanghai

Hi,
I am flying from London UK to Osaka via Shanghai Pudong airport. The layover in Shanghai is approx. 2 hours.

I can apply for the 24h visa free transit as advised but I am worried about the person I am travelling with. He is a British Citizen born in Iraq, holding a British passport. Will there any issues at Shanghai border control because of his ethnicity at all? Will he be refused entry due to this?

Thanks.