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.
We Didn’t Get This Angry Because Americans Changed: We Got This Angry Because Washington Did
Fox News Legal Analyst Jonathan Turley Thoroughly Dismantles Lindsay Clancy’s Attorney After Debate Challenge
Obama Operative Turned Trump Voter Exposes the Anti-Working-Class Bigotry That Destroyed the Democrats
Fox News Stars Mourn the Brutal Murder of a Beloved ‘Fan Who Became a Friend’
El-Sayed ignites firestorm after sharing 9/11 message on social media: ‘Piece of s—‘
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Lindsay Clancy jurors, Bryan Kohberger’s legal move, Menendez brothers hearing
Firefighter caught on camera ripping pro-Palestinian agitator in Elmo costume near Ground Zero on 9/11
EXCLUSIVE: Pence group knocks Vance plan to pay stay-at-home parents up to $9K per child
Clinton, Bush received multiple warnings on bin Laden hijack plots before 9/11, declassified files show
First use of Alien Terrorist Removal Court sends Afghan woman back after Election Day ISIS plot: DOJ
Nashville Airport Authority Votes Unanimously to Change Name to Honor Dolly Parton
‘Open sore’: Families face agonizing wait as 9/11 mastermind’s trial pushed nearly 27 years after attacks
Watch: Convention Crowd Symbolically Anoints JD Vance for 2028 with Chant
Inside Trump’s intimate meeting with nation’s bravest soldiers during whirlwind Texas trip
California woman chased, fatally shot by illegal immigrant DoorDash driver who stalked her for months: DHS
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.
