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United States 'secretly expelled' Chinese diplomats for trespassing military base: Reports

WION Web Team
Washington City, District of Columbia, United States of AmericaUpdated: Dec 16, 2019, 04:02 PM IST
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File photo: US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping. Photograph:(Reuters)

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The incident reportedly happened in September this year when the officials were stopped at the entry of the base as they lacked a permit.

Relations between the United States and China seem to have hit the rock bottom, as according to reports, Washington 'secretly expelled' two Chinese embassy officials after they entered a sensitive military base.

The Chinese officials accompanied by their wives tried to enter a base in the US state of Virginia, claims the report.

The incident reportedly happened in September this year when the officials were stopped at the entry of the base as they lacked a permit.

However, instead of exiting the base, the officials drove inwards and had to be blocked by fire trucks.

According to the report, one of the officials is believed to be an intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover and the motive of the intrusion was to test the security at the installation.

The Chinese embassy claimed that the officials were not able to understand the instructions, which were being transmitted in English.

As per the report, Beijing has raised the issue of expulsions with the US state department.

It added that Washington has unveiled new restrictions for Chinese diplomats in response to strict new rules imposed on American envoys in China.

The incident comes amid the failure of talks to bring an end to the trade war between the two economic giants.