作者：顺伯文伯 来源：原创 发布日期：08-25
一 | London, Oct 19 (UNI) One of China's most senior UK diplomats was involved in violence against protesters at the Manchester consulate on Sunday, a British MP says.
"What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest," Alicia Kearns told MPs in the House of Commons, BBC reported.
China has not commented on Zheng Xiyuan's alleged involvement.
But the Foreign Ministry in Beijing defended the actions of consulate staff.
Spokesman Wang Wenbin said people had "illegally entered" the grounds and any country's diplomats would have taken "necessary measures" to protect their premises.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned Chinese chargé d'affaires Yang Xiaoguang -- the ambassador's deputy -- on Tuesday to demand an explanation for what happened at the consulate, the BBC reported.
The UK said it was reiterated at the meeting that all diplomats and consular staff based in the UK must respect the UK's laws and regulations.
The official Chinese version of what happened is at odds with video footage and statements from police.
Officers had to drag back a protester from inside the consulate gate as he was being attacked, the report said.
Earlier, Kearns told MPs that after Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan ripped down the placards, there was "grievous bodily harm against a Hongkonger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest.
"Some were then dragged onto consulate territory for a further beating by officials who have been recognised to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"We cannot allow the CCP to import their beating of protesters, their silencing of free speech and their failure to allow time and time again protests on British soil. This is a chilling escalation."
According to a statement by the Greater Manchester Police, around 30 to 40 people had gathered outside the consulate to protest, the BBC reported.
"Shortly before 4pm a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted," the statement said.
"Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds."
The consulate is UK territory, but cannot be entered without consent.
Another MP, Labour's Afzal Khan -- who represents the constituency where the consulate is, Manchester Gorton -- told the House of Commons he was "sickened" by the scenes.
"The UK stands for freedom, the rule of law, and democracy," said the Labour MP. "The quashing of peaceful protests will never be tolerated on British soil."
Khan and other MPs called for the consul-general to be declared a "persona non grata" -- meaning a person who is unwelcome in the country.
Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith asked if the government would "be prepared to expel the consul-general and any of those that are found to have been part of that punishment beating and the vandalism?"
Some MPs called for the Foreign Office to go further, including Labour's Andrew Gwynne who said: "Had these incidents happened on the streets of Hong Kong, there would have been outrage from the British government, rightly so.
"They happened on the streets of Manchester and yet we have this situation where the minister is basically sending a memo to the Chinese embassy, an offer of a cup of tea and a chat with the ambassador."
UNI MR。 (서울=연합뉴스) 서대연 기자 = 오세훈 서울시장이 주택공급 방안 관련 용산공원 부지의 대안으로 탄천물재생센터 부지를 제시한 가운데 26일 강남구 일원동 탄천물재생센터 부지의 모습. 오 시장은 이날 김윤덕 국토교통부 장관과 만나 탄천 물재생센터에 가칭 '동남권 청년 특화 산업단지'를 조성하는 구상에 대해서 정식으로 제안했다고 밝혔다. 김 장관은 "오 시장이 탄천물재생센터를 검토해 달라고 요청했고, 우리는 자료가 전혀 없으니 필요하다고 해 가능한 자료를 바로 주기로 했다"며 "그 자료를 받아 분석해봐야 어떤 얘기를 할 수 있을 것 같다. 적극적으로 검토해보겠다는 취지로 오 시장과 대화를 나눴다"고 말했다. 2026.8.26 [email protected]。
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