• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

USA

China-US row: Fugitive researcher ‘hiding in San Francisco consulate’

China-US row: Fugitive researcher ‘hiding in San Francisco consulate’
Newsexplored
23rd July 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionMen were filmed acting suspiciously at China’s consulate in Houston on Tuesday

A Chinese scientist suspected of visa fraud and concealing ties to the military has fled to China’s consulate in San Francisco, the US says.

Prosecutors allege that the case is part of a Chinese programme to send undercover army scientists to the US.

On Wednesday the Trump administration ordered the closure of China’s mission in Houston, saying it was involved in stealing intellectual property.

China condemned moves against its scientists and consulates in the US.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the administration of using excuses to limit, harass or crack down on Chinese scholars in the country.

“In response to the US’s unreasonable actions, China must make a necessary response and safeguard its legitimate rights,” he said at a press conference, describing the US allegations as “malicious slander”.

  • What’s behind Trump’s new strategy on China?
  • The Hong Kong crisis and the new world order

Following the row over the Houston consulate, President Donald Trump threatened to close down more Chinese missions.

In recent months he has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade, the coronavirus pandemic and China’s imposition of a controversial new security law on Hong Kong.

data-ad-format="auto">

What are the allegations about the San Francisco mission?

Court filings by prosecutors in a federal court in San Francisco say the defendant, named as Juan Tang, was a biology researcher at the University of California, Davis.

According to the filings, during an interview with FBI agents last month she said she had not served in the Chinese military.

However, the document says, an open-source investigation uncovered photos of her wearing military uniform and a search of her home found further evidence of her affiliation with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

“At some point following the search and interview of Tang on June 20, 2020, Tang went to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, where the FBI assesses she has remained,” the filing, first reported on by the Axios news site, reads.

Image copyright EPA
Image caption China foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called the US allegations “malicious slander”

It adds: “As the Tang case demonstrates, the Chinese consulate in San Francisco provides a potential safe harbor for a PLA official intent on avoiding prosecution in the United States.”


Prosecutors say that this is not an isolated case but “appears to be part of a program conducted by the PLA” to send military scientists to the US on false pretences.

The document also highlights the cases of two other researchers arrested in California in recent weeks for lying about their alleged ties to the military.

What is happening at China’s consulates?

The Houston consulate came under scrutiny on Tuesday when people overlooking the building’s courtyard noticed several bins on fire.

Footage showed people throwing what appeared to be paper into the bins.

Emergency services were called to the building but Houston police say they were not granted access.

On Wednesday, the administration gave China 72 hours to close the consulate “to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information”.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would “take actions that protect the American people”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “We are setting out clear expectations for how the Chinese Communist Party is going to behave. And when they don’t, we’re going to take actions that protect the American people, protect… our national security, and also protect our economy and jobs.”

The consulate is one of five in the US, not counting the embassy in Washington. China described the closure as a “political provocation”.

What is stoking tensions between China and the US?

There are a number of flashpoints between Beijing and Washington. Some of the most serious are:

  • Coronavirus: President Trump has repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the “China virus”. and alleged it originated from a Chinese laboratory, despite his own intelligence officers saying it “was not manmade”. In response, Chinese officials have suggested, without evidence, that Covid-19 might have originated in the US
  • Trade: Mr Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft. The US and China have engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war since 2018 as a result of the dispute
  • Hong Kong: China’s imposition of a sweeping new national security law in Hong Kong in June led the US to revoke the region’s preferential economic treatment. Beijing has accused the US of “gross interference” in its domestic affairs, promising it will retaliate
  • South China Sea: The two countries have also clashed over Beijing’s pursuit of offshore resources in disputed waters, with Mr Pompeo calling it a “campaign of bullying”.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemschinaconsulatefranciscofugitivehidingresearcher
USA
23rd July 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemschinaconsulatefranciscofugitivehidingresearcher

More in USA

  • Read More
    Trump impeachment: When will he go on trial in the Senate?

    Views:2 image copyrightWhite House via Twitter image captionPresident Trump returned to Twitter to post the address Donald...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Joe Biden unveils $1.9tn US economic relief package

    Views:2 media captionBiden: ‘I promise we will not forget you’ President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled a $1.9tn...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    How much can Joe Biden get done on the US economy?

    Views:2 By Natalie ShermanBusiness reporter, New York image copyrightReuters The social and economic devastation from the coronavirus...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Could Liz Cheney spark a revolt?

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images image captionDemocrats, including Jamie Raskin (centre), are planning to impeach President Donald Trump...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Trump National stripped of 2022 US PGA Championship

    Views:2 Trump National hosted the 2017 US Women’s Open Trump National in Bedminster has been stripped of...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Twitter permanently suspends Trump’s account

    Views:2 Published duration1 hour ago shareShare Share page linkCopy link About sharing Related Topics US Capitol riots...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Capitol riots: Questions mount over security failure

    Views:2 image copyrightEPA image captionFour people died and dozens of officers were injured in spiralling violence With...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Capitol riots: A visual guide to the storming of Congress

    Views:2 By The Visual Journalism Team BBC News image copyrightGetty Images The US is reeling after supporters...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    NBA: Miami Heat and Boston Celtics play with ‘heavy heart’ after storming of Capitol

    Views:2 Miami and Boston players knelt for the national anthem before the Celtics’ win on Wednesday The...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Capitol attack: Congress resumes election session after deadly violence

    Views:2 media captionWhen a mob stormed the US capitol Lawmakers have returned to the US Capitol to...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Biden blasts Trump supporters’ ‘siege’ of Capitol

    Views:2 media captionPolice place US Capitol Building on lockdown after Trump supporters breached security lines US President-elect...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
  • Read More
    Georgia Senate election: Democrats take control with Warnock and Ossoff wins

    Views:2 image copyrightReuters image captionRaphael Warnock, seen here during the campaign, will become the first black senator...

    Newsexplored 23rd July 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Trump pardons two convicted by Russia investigation
    USA23rd December 2020
  • New coronavirus variant: What do we know?
    UK20th December 2020
  • Kieran Trippier suspended for 10 weeks over breaches of betting rules
    Sports23rd December 2020
  • The Papers: UK and EU on ‘verge’ of Brexit trade deal
    UK23rd December 2020
  • Trump impeachment: When will he go on trial in the Senate?
    USA16th January 2021
  • Joe Biden unveils $1.9tn US economic relief package
    USA15th January 2021
  • How much can Joe Biden get done on the US economy?
    USA14th January 2021
  • Could Liz Cheney spark a revolt?
    USA13th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Trump to send ‘surge’ of hundred of federal agents to cities
Clint Eastwood sues over false cannabis endorsements
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok