A view of the Chinese Consulate General on December 14, 2022 in Manchester, the UK. Photo: VCG

China strongly urges the UK to honor its obligations under relevant international laws and bilateral consular agreements, to immediately stop political manipulation, and take credible measures to enable the normal performance of Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in the UK, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Thursday.

Otherwise, China will respond with resolute, strong and reciprocal countermeasures, Wang said.

"What happened at the Chinese Consulate-General on October 16 was very clear. The protesters made provocations first. They deliberately harassed and entered illegally into China's Consulate-General in Manchester, and violently assaulted the consulate staff," Wang said.

One member of the consulate staff was dragged out of the consulate and beaten. A protester broke into the consulate, pushed one of the staff members to the ground and choked him, causing loss of consciousness. Another protester who illegally entered the consulate was even wearing a professional combat glove, according to Wang.

These illegal acts put the safety and security of the consulate's premises and personnel in "serious danger" and the response from the personnel of the Chinese consulate was "proper and entirely legitimate and lawful," Wang said.

The UK misrepresented the facts and smeared China, and has sided with violent rioters calling for "Hong Kong independence" and wrongfully accused the relevant Chinese consulate members who were actually the victims of violent harassment and assaults, Wang said.

China has launched solemn representations with the UK for its arbitrary and unscrupulous acts, according to Wang.

The Chinese Consul General in Manchester has completed his term of office and returned to China upon instruction not long ago. This is a normal rotation, Wang said.

The UK government should stop siding with anti-China rioters calling for "Hong Kong independence" and fulfill its obligations under international law to protect the safety and dignity of the Chinese consulate premises and personnel, the Chinese Embassy in the UK said when asked to comment on the UK requiring diplomats in the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester to comply with a police investigation on a disruptive incident which took place in October.

The embassy spokesperson said that what took place on October 16 was a most malignant and violent provocation deliberately staged by anti-China elements who assaulted Chinese consulate members and illegally intruded onto consular premises.

Far from protecting Chinese consulate premises and personnel, the UK side wrongfully accused Chinese consulate staff who were actually the victims, which is totally unacceptable to the Chinese side, the embassy emphasized, saying it has launched solemn representations with the UK government.

The embassy said it strongly deplores and firmly opposes the fact-distorting irresponsible comments of British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who said according to Reuters that China has removed six diplomats, including the Consul General in Manchester, from the UK after police interview requests, and that he's disappointed that these individuals won't be interviewed or face justice.

"The Chinese Consul General in Manchester has completed his term and has returned to China following recently issued instructions. This is a normal rotation of Chinese consular officials," the embassy said.

The embassy urged the British government to put an end to political manipulation, to stop siding with anti-China rioters and to ensure the safety of the premises and members of Chinese diplomatic and consular missions.

"The UK side must be clear that reciprocity is an essential principle in diplomacy. Any act that undermines China's interests will definitely be met with a forceful response," the embassy noted.

Global Times