China today issued a threat of retaliation against the United Kingdom after six Chinese nationals departed the country before being questioned by police regarding an attack on a pro-democracy protester outside Beijing’s embassy in Manchester.
October anti-Beijing demonstration participant Bob Chan of Hong Kong stated that Chinese officials took him into their complex and assaulted him. Greater Manchester Police initiated a criminal investigation.
James Cleverly, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, stated on Wednesday that six envoys had departed the country before the deadline established by London for them to relinquish their diplomatic immunity and be questioned by authorities on the event.
Beijing asserted that the recall of consul-general Zheng Xiyuan, one of China’s most senior UK diplomats, was a “regular rotation of Chinese personnel.”
Bob Chan of Hong Kong stated in October that Chinese diplomats dragged him into their complex and assaulted him during an anti-Beijing demonstration. Greater Manchester Police began a criminal investigation in response to Chan’s allegations (pictured)
Bob Chan, the Hong Kong protester who was allegedly attacked at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, met with Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith on October 19 in London.
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged the United Kingdom to “fulfill its commitments under applicable international law and bilateral consular agreements” and “urgently ensure the normal performance of Chinese diplomatic and consular posts.”
‘Otherwise, China would definitely retaliate in similar amount and with equal power,’ he threatened, accusing the United Kingdom of ‘political manipulation’ and collaborating with ‘violent separatists.’
In October, the UK’s Foreign Office summoned Yang Xiaoguang, China’s Charge d’Affaires in London, when video evidence corroborated Chan’s assertions.
Senior members of the ruling Conservative party had accused Zheng of attending the nonviolent rally in Manchester and pulling down posters.
The chair of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, praised the announcement of their recall, stating that the six had “fled the country like cowards, demonstrating their guilt.”
She stated, “The Foreign Office must now proclaim all fugitives persona non grata and make it clear they are never again welcome in the United Kingdom.”
The Foreign Office had requested that Beijing waive their diplomatic immunity so that Greater Manchester Police could examine them on the incident, but they departed before being questioned.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that Yang Xiaoguang, the Chinese consul general, and five of his employees have either already left the United Kingdom or are in the process of leaving.
Mr. Cleverly stated on Wednesday, ‘This illustrates that our dedication to the rule of law, and the seriousness with which we treat these situations, has had an effect. We will continue to adhere to the rule of law internationally and domestically, and we expect others to do the same.’
He continued, “We all witnessed the upsetting footage of the incident outside the Chinese embassy in Manchester.”
“As a result, we launched a process based on our commitment to the rule of law.
Greater Manchester Police began an inquiry and requested that six Chinese officials renounce their diplomatic immunity in order to be questioned.
“We notified the Chinese Embassy of this and gave them a deadline that expired today, making it clear that we expected them to take action.”
In response to our request, the Chinese government has now withdrawn those officials, including the consul general, from the United Kingdom.
In contrast to embassies, consulates remain subject to the jurisdiction of the host nation, but are frequently granted exceptional privileges, such as immunity from certain laws.
Pro-democracy demonstrators from Hong Kong organized a peaceful demonstration in front of the Manchester Consulate in response to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, where it is widely anticipated that President Xi Jinping will proclaim another five years in power.