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.
Voters Attack Back in Missouri: Council Members in Multiple Towns Electorally Whacked as Fed-Up Voters Send Blunt Message
Vance says he’s ‘grateful’ for Pope Leo’s statement on not wanting public debate with Trump
Trump’s Quick Reply to Joe Rogan’s Text Message Brought Him to the White House: ‘Do You Want FDA Approval?’
Obama, Mamdani sing ‘Wheels on the Bus’ with Bronx kids during first joint appearance: video
NYC teen shot dead on Queens basketball court as bystanders filmed; police searching for gunman
Rubio targets Nicaraguan official over alleged torture tied to ‘brutal’ Ortega regime
‘Lego bandit’ accused in bizarre $34K scheme replacing minifigures with pasta
Pro-Life Activist Targeted By Biden Walks Away with Massive Lawsuit Payout
Airline worker stole plane, performed barrel roll before deadly crash: Inside final moments
Trump DOJ Keeps Biden-Era Gun Rule
Walz rips Trump and Vance in Europe, says ‘feeble-minded, trigger-happy president’ has no exit plan for Iran
This African Country Could Start Islamic ‘Sharia Courts’
Ilhan Omar’s office says she’s ‘not a millionaire’ after $30M filing revised down to under $100K: report
US Navy releases photos of ‘fresh meals,’ pushes back on reports of food shortages on Middle East warships
Perfect Justice: South Koreans Teach US Punk a Hard Lesson – 6 Months Hard Labor for Disgusting Public Behavior
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.
