Washington (AFP) – The United States secretly expelled two Chinese embassy officials in September after they drove onto a sensitive military base in Virginia, The New York Times reported Sunday.
The newspaper, which cited people with knowledge of the episode, said it appeared to be the first time in more than 30 years that the US has expelled Chinese diplomats on suspicion of espionage.
At least one of the diplomats was believed to be an intelligence officer operating under cover, the Times said.
The Times said the diplomats, accompanied by their wives, drove up to the checkpoint at the entrance to a sensitive installation near Norfolk, Virginia that includes special operations forces.
Chaotic border chase ends with illegal immigrants found crammed in semitruck sleeping area
DOJ sues UCLA over alleged ‘Judenrein’ conditions during anti-Israel encampment
Christian Lifeguard Punished for Removing Pride Flag Is Headed to Trial After Being Told His ‘Religious Beliefs Don’t Matter’ by Gov’t Boss – Lawsuit
Fact Check: Is the Bible ‘Silent on Abortion,’ as James Talarico Claims?
NASA chief pulls back curtain on Trump UFO files after bizarre finds surface in buried fed records
Report: NBA Team Could Interview Woke Women’s College Coach for Head Coaching Job
Democrats break with scandal-plagued Graham Platner, warn of ‘civil war’ in party
Uganda closes border with Congo after surge of rare Ebola cases
Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin still posting from New York City as DHS signals her deportation may finally be coming
Federal agents in New Jersey beat back anti-ICE agitators in chaos outside Delaney Hall detention facility
Pro Bowl NFL Running Back Arrested on 5 Charges
US Military Carries Out Deadly Strike on Drug-Smuggling Vessel in Eastern Pacific
U.S. Rushing to Set Up Ebola Quarantine Facility: Report
ACLU hit with foreign money complaint as new election law faces major test
New York sheriffs ‘mad as hell’ as Hochul pushes to ban key law enforcement partnership
The guard saw that they didn’t have permission to enter and directed them to go through the gates, turn around and exit.
The Chinese officials continued onto the base, evading military personnel pursuing them until they were forced to stop by fire trucks blocking their path, according to the Times.
It said the officials said they didn’t understand the guard’s instructions and got lost.
Weeks after the incident, the State Department placed restrictions on the activities of Chinese diplomats, in what it said was a response to years-old Chinese regulations limiting the movements of US diplomats.
Story cited here.
