Diplomatic tensions between the Chinese mainland and the United Kingdom have intensified following a recent judicial decision in Britain. China's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Zheng Zeguang, has lodged strong representations with the British government, calling for an immediate end to what he described as anti-China political manipulation.
The dispute centers on a UK court ruling involving two Chinese citizens, one of whom is an employee of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. In a meeting with an official from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on May 8, Ambassador Zheng firmly rejected the accusations leveled by the British side and urged the UK government to correct its course.
According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy, Ambassador Zheng characterized the court verdict as a "political farce," asserting that the UK had utilized "trumped-up crimes" to arrest and indict the individuals involved. He argued that the legal proceedings were not a matter of justice but rather an abuse of law intended to serve political ends.
"The so-called conviction was the outcome of abusing the law and manipulating the judicial process by the UK side," Zheng stated. He further claimed that the primary objective of such actions was to embolden anti-China elements residing in the UK who seek to destabilize Hong Kong and smear both the Chinese central government and the Hong Kong SAR government.
The Ambassador also raised concerns regarding the UK's role in harboring individuals wanted by Hong Kong authorities. He emphasized that these arrests and convictions represent a serious violation of the basic norms of international relations and have caused significant damage to the bilateral relationship between China and the UK.
In his closing appeal, Ambassador Zheng urged the UK government to cease its support for anti-China elements and stop the practice of arbitrarily arresting and convicting Chinese citizens, calling for a return to diplomatic norms and mutual respect.
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China's ambassador urges UK to stop anti-China political manipulation
cgtn.com
