China removes 6 staff from UK over Manchester consulate incident, including consul general
- British foreign minister said Beijing removed officials, including their boss, after police asked to interview them over treatment of a protester in October
- Investigation had been under way into alleged assault of a man dragged inside consulate grounds and beaten during demonstration against President Xi Jinping
Beijing has recalled six consulate officials, including Consul General Zheng Xiyuan, after British police wanted to question them over a confrontation with a man protesting outside the Chinese consulate in Manchester in October, according to British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
Greater Manchester Police had asked the officials to waive diplomatic immunity to be questioned as part of their inquiry and British officials gave the Chinese embassy a deadline of Wednesday to comply, Cleverly said.
“The violence at China’s consulate in Manchester was unacceptable,” Cleverly said in a tweet.
“This demonstrates that our adherence to the rule of law, the seriousness with which we take these incidents, has had an effect and we will continue on the world stage and domestically to abide by the rule of law and we expect to do likewise,” he added.
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Protesters and staff brawl outside Chinese consulate in northern UK city of Manchester
Police had been investigating the October 16 incident in which a protester was allegedly dragged inside the compound and kicked and beaten by individuals. Cleverly summoned the acting ambassador following the incident.
