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Beijing protests after US expels two Chinese diplomats who drove onto military base

  • Foreign ministry says allegations not in line with the facts and calls for Washington to ‘correct its mistake and cancel the decision’
  • The officials were expelled on suspicion of espionage in September

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It is the first time the US has expelled Chinese diplomats on suspicion of espionage for more than three decades. Photo: AFP
Shi JiangtaoandTeddy Ng
China on Monday said it had lodged a protest with the United States after it expelled two Chinese diplomats who reportedly drove onto a US military base.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the allegations made by the US against the Chinese diplomats were not in line with the facts.

“We strongly demand that the US immediately correct its mistake, cancel the decision and protect the legitimate rights of Chinese diplomats in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Geng said during a press briefing in Beijing.

“I want to remind the US again that international relations should be based on the mutual agreement of providing convenience and protection to diplomatic staff as stipulated in the Vienna convention.”

The latest incident to inflame tensions between Beijing and Washington was first reported on Sunday by The New York Times, which cited multiple people familiar with the matter. The embassy officials were expelled on suspicion of espionage in September, and it was apparently the first time this had happened in more than 30 years.

One of the diplomats was thought to be an undercover intelligence officer, according to the report.

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