OREANDA-NEWS. Chinese authorities consider that the United States of America made a mistake by expelling Beijing’s diplomats from the country.

China submitted official protest to Washington. This was told to journalists by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Geng Shuang, on December 16. “We strongly urge the US to correct its mistake, cancel the relevant decision and protect Chinese personnel’s proper rights according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Geng Shuang said.

On December 15, The New York Times reported, citing sources, that the United States secretly expelled two Chinese diplomats. According to publication, the representatives of the embassy tried to get to a military base near the city of Norfolk (Virginia State). The diplomats and their wives avoided trying to detain them and stopped only after fire trucks blocked their path. Both sides withheld information about the incident.

It is noted that this fact reinforced the apprehension of the United States about the fact that China is increasing the activity of intelligence agents against the backdrop of rivalry between the two countries.

The trade confrontation between China and the United States began in July 2018. Washington introduced 25 % duties on imports of 818 kinds of Chinese goods with a total volume of 34 billion US dollars per year. Beijing took the corresponding measures. Later, both sides repeatedly introduced new duties.