China has withdrawn six of its diplomats from the UK after British police wanted to question them over an alleged attack on a pro-democracy protester at one of their consular offices.
The Chinese consul-general and five of his staff were removed after British police wanted to question the six officials over the assault on protester Bob Chen, who said masked men stormed out of the consulate building in Manchester during a protest peace in October, dragging him into the consulate grounds and beating him up, according to British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
Police said officers at the scene had to intervene and remove Chen, who suffered injuries to his face and back.
He cleverly said that the British Foreign Office has asked Beijing to waive the diplomatic immunity of the six officials to allow the police investigating the matter to question them.
CHINA IS PUTTING THE WORLD AT MORE RISK THAN EVER
Chinese President Xi Jinping greets the media before a meeting of BRICS emerging economies leaders at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil
(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, Pool, File)
However, Chinese officials decided to recall diplomats to China instead
“In response, the Chinese embassy, acting on instructions from Beijing, notified HM Government that the consul-general’s duties in Manchester have ended and he has returned to China,” Cleverly said. She added that other staff have “left the UK or will shortly”.
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General view of signage outside the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, Britain, Oct. 17, 2022.
(Reuters/Phil Noble)
In a statement, Chen said the removal of Chinese diplomats gave him some “closure”.
“It has been two months since I was attacked in Manchester by Chinese consulate staff members,” he said. “What happened on October 16, 2022 was unacceptable and illegal, and the withdrawal of these Chinese diplomats gives me a sense of closure.”
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Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at Downing Street in London, Tuesday October 25, 2022, after returning from Buckingham Palace, where he was formally appointed to the post by Britain’s King Charles III.
(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
China’s foreign ministry said at the time of the incident that Chen had entered the consulate illegally and that Chinese diplomatic personnel have the right to maintain security at their premises.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
