Beijing decries ‘interrogation, detention, deportation’ of personnel from Chinese firms by US

ISTANBUL

China on Monday condemned what it described as “unwarranted” interrogations, detentions and deportations of personnel from Chinese companies by US authorities, characterizing the alleged actions as “rough” and “coercive.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters that US law enforcement agencies have repeatedly subjected employees of Chinese enterprises to “prolonged and unjustified interrogations, detentions, and deportations upon entry into the US.”

“Their enforcement methods have been rough and coercive, seriously infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and gravely undermining the normal atmosphere of business exchanges, cooperation, and people-to-people interactions between the two countries,” Lin added.

He said the situation stands in “serious contravention” of the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries during their meeting in South Korea last year, particularly regarding strengthening cooperation in the economic and trade fields.

“China expresses strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to this,” Lin said.