US gravely infringes on China’s diplomatic dignity, security interests: China

Beijing, China: The U.S. has gravely infringed on China's diplomatic dignity and security interests by taking unreasonable actions including opening and confiscating diplomatic pouches belonging to Chinese foreign missions and making unwarranted accusations against China, to which China will take necessary reactions, said a Chinese spokesman in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang Wenbi made the remarks in response to a series of the unreasonable actions against China from the U.S. side, including the requirement to close China's Consulate-General in Houston, Texas. "In July 2018 and January 2020, the U.S. opened China's diplomatic pouches twice without permission, which was a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and a grave infringement on China's diplomatic dignity and security interests," said Wang.

Wang stressed that the U.S. actions runs counter to international law and norms governing international relations and should be condemned, before adding that China will make necessary reactions to the U.S. unwarranted actions. "After these incidents happened, the Chinese diplomatic mission in the U.S. immediately made solemn representations to the U.S. side. The U.S. side didn't deny the relevant facts, but repeatedly used technical reasons as an excuse to shirk responsibility for its wrong acts. What the U.S. has done runs counter to international law and norms governing international relations and should be condemned. China will make necessary reactions to the U.S. unreasonable actions and safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," said Wang.

In regards to some media reports stating that the U.S. demand of the closure of China’s consulate general in Houston is a response to China not facilitating the re-opening of the U.S. consulate general in Wuhan, Wang categorically rejected the speculations saying that China has always facilitated the U.S. consulate general’s lawful operations.

"It's not true. As is known to all, in January, the U.S. unilaterally announced the temporary closure of its consulate general in Wuhan and withdrew all personnel. In June, some diplomatic staff returned to Wuhan and re-opened the consulate general. China has all along been facilitating the U.S consulate general’s lawful operations," said Wang.

Wang also denied the U.S. claim that the Chinese consul general and two other diplomats in Houston were recently caught having used false identification to escort Chinese travelers to the gate area of a charter flight at a U.S. airport.

"The personal information of Chinese diplomats in the U.S. is open and transparent to the U.S. side. In order to take care of Chinese citizens taking temporary flights, our consular officials entered the restricted area at airport upon U.S. approval, carrying consular IDs issued by the U.S. Department of State. It is a legitimate, legal and reasonable practice which happens a lot. The U.S. is merely making up excuses and its accusations are baseless," said Wang.