China has deported six diplomats from the United Kingdom who were wanted by police in connection with the alleged beating of a pro-democracy protester outside the Chinese consulate in Manchester, England.
The move comes after the British government asked China to waive diplomatic immunity and allow its diplomats to be interviewed by police, according to British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
“In response to our request, the Chinese government has now removed those officials from the UK, including the consul-general himself,” Cleverly said. “This shows that our adherence to the rule of law, the seriousness with which we treat these instances, has had an effect.”
In October of this year, a pro-democracy demonstration in support of Hong Kong took place outside Manchester’s Chinese consulate. One of the protesters was dragged into the consulate grounds and beaten by a group of men, according to a video of the incident.
“Images shared on social media appeared to show what appeared to be completely unacceptable behavior by a number of individuals near the consular premises,” Cleverly said in a statement Tuesday.
Consul-general Zheng Xiyuan later claimed that “rude banners” incited the violence and that it was his “duty” to defend China’s dignity.
According to a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London, Britain failed to protect its consular staff, and the Chinese Embassy has launched its own representations with the UK over the incident, which it described as “of a most malignant nature.”
“It was a deliberately staged violent disruptive provocation by anti-China elements who assaulted our consulate members and illegally intruded into the consulate premises, gravely undermining the safety and dignity of consulate officials,” the spokesman said.
According to the Chinese Embassy, the consul-general returned to China as part of the “normal rotation of Chinese consular officials” and completed his term of office.
Cleverly said in a statement Tuesday that the British government was prepared to take “firm action” if the police determined there was enough evidence to charge officials in the incident. “Regardless of their privileges and immunities, we expect a certain standard of behavior from all foreign diplomats and consular staff in the UK,” Cleverly said.
“I am disappointed that these people will not be interviewed or prosecuted. “However, it is correct that those responsible for the disgraceful scenes in Manchester are no longer – or will soon be – consular staff accredited to the UK,” he added.
According to Greater Manchester Police, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, and investigations are ongoing.
In addition, police have “successfully identified a number of offenses, including numerous assaults and public order offenses, as well as potential suspects and victims that we would like to speak with in connection with the incident,” according to a police spokesperson.
Around 60 pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside the Manchester consulate to protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power, according to protest organizers.
Many Hong Kong residents live in the United Kingdom, having fled the city after Beijing enacted sweeping national security legislation in 2020 in response to mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. Protesters and activists have been imprisoned, newsrooms have been closed, civic society has been dismantled, and formal political opposition has been effectively wiped out as a result of the law.
The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied that the law has stifled freedoms, claiming that it has instead restored order to the city following the protests.
