Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: The personnel of the US Consulate General in Chengdu engaged in activities inconsistent with their status
China News Service, Beijing, July 24 (Reporter Zhang Su) In response to China’s decision to revoke the establishment and operation of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated at a regular press conference on the 24th that China’s above measures are The proper and necessary response to the US's unreasonable actions conforms to international law and basic norms of international relations, and conforms to diplomatic practice. He pointed out that some personnel of the US Consulate General in Chengdu engaged in activities incompatible with their status, interfering in China's internal affairs and harming China's security interests.
According to Wang Wenbin, on the morning of July 24, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified the US Embassy in China that China decided to revoke the permission for the establishment and operation of the US Consulate General in Chengdu, and put forward specific requirements for the Consulate General to suspend all business and activities.
He pointed out that on July 21, the US unilaterally provoked an incident and suddenly demanded that China close the Consulate General in Houston, which seriously violated international law and the basic norms of international relations and the relevant provisions of the Sino-US consular treaty, and seriously damaged Sino-US relations. The above-mentioned measures by China are a legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable actions of the United States. They conform to international law and basic norms of international relations, and conform to diplomatic practices.
Wang Wenbin emphasized that the current situation between China and the United States is something China does not want to see, and the responsibility rests solely with the United States. We once again urge the U.S. to immediately revoke the erroneous decision to create necessary conditions for the return of bilateral relations to normal.
"Some personnel of the US Consulate General in Chengdu engaged in activities that were inconsistent with their status, interfering in China's internal affairs and harming China's security interests. The Chinese side has made representations on this many times, and the United States knows this well," said Wang Wenbin.
In response to a media question about why the Chengdu Consulate General was chosen and whether it was required to close within 72 hours, Wang Wenbin added that China has put forward specific requirements for the US Consulate General in Chengdu to stop all operations and activities, and diplomacy is reciprocal. (Finish)