China said on Monday "Fault" the expulsion of Chinese diplomats by Washington, after the revelations of the New york times stating that they had attempted in September to break into an American military base. It was the latest incident between the two largest economic powers in the world, days after the announcement of a truce in their trade war.
In an article published on Sunday, the American daily states that the United States has "Secretly" expelled two Chinese diplomats who tried in September to break into a military base in the state of Virginia.
At least one of them is suspected by the US authorities of being a Chinese intelligence agent, added the daily, which quotes American officials on condition of anonymity. These would be the first expulsions of Chinese diplomats to the United States for " spying " for over thirty years.
Beijing official protest
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang Denied Charges On Monday "Totally contrary to the facts" and called on the American authorities to "Repair their fault". He said at a press briefing that Beijing had "Officially protested" with Washington.
The incident took place in a "Sensitive installation" near Norfolk, Virginia, home to special forces, according to the story published by the New york times. Two officials from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, accompanied by their wives, drove to the base’s checkpoint, but were denied access, but were denied access, the newspaper said.
Instead of leaving, the vehicle continued on its way into the base, escaping the control of the soldiers and, ultimately, being blocked by trucks. The reason for the alleged intrusion attempt has not been clarified, the newspaper said. The Chinese diplomats allegedly invoked an error, claiming that they did not master English and did not understand the instructions, which did not convince their American interlocutors. When questioned by AFP, the US State Department did not respond immediately.
The United States and China announced a preliminary trade deal on Friday after months of showdowns with tariffs. But the two countries are spreading their differences on many fronts, from industrial espionage to the military, from Beijing's controversial counterterrorism campaign to Xinjiang to the situation in Hong Kong.
