The Chinese government has removed six diplomats from the United Kingdom following the October incident at the Consulate in Manchester, where a group of protesters were attacked during a rally calling for more democracy in Hong Kong.
Consulate staff then went out to try to disperse the demonstrators and one of them was even dragged inside the diplomatic compound to be assaulted. Among the alleged attackers was Consul General Zheng Xiyuan, one of the most senior Chinese diplomats in the UK.
However, Beijing has withdrawn Zhang and five other officials, according to the BBC, which has attributed this departure to an attempt by Beijing to pre-empt possible retaliation from the British side, especially if the Chinese Embassy did not cooperate in police investigations.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has, however, expressed «disappointment» that none of the six diplomats will now be held accountable for possible abuses. «We will continue both globally and domestically to ensure that the rule of law is upheld,» he said, in a message to the House of Commons.
