Kannada diplomat defends pulling protesters’ hair in UK: ‘It’s my responsibility’ | World news
A Chinese university official in the UK defended his actions during a protest, saying he was pulling people’s hair because he offended the Asian nation and its leader Xi Jinping. Zheng Xiyuan, the general representative of the consulate in Manchester, said in an interview on Wednesday with Sky News that he did it because a demonstrator “abused my country, my leader.”
“It’s my responsibility,” Zheng said, adding any diplomat would do the same “if faced with such behavior.”
Police in Manchester have said that a man entered the gates of the Chinese consulate on Sunday after 30 to 40 people gathered outside to stage a peaceful protest. The victims were attacked within the consulate area until it was removed by an official, the police added.
Video of the incident appeared to show Zheng tearing down one of several signs on the sidewalk in front of the consulate criticizing both the Chinese Communist Party and Xi, who hopes to secure an anti-normative third term in office at the end this conclusion.
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That move set off a clash between protesters and staff, and Zheng later appeared to grab a protester by the hair and watch as several men beat him. Zheng said in an interview that his staff “tried to control the situation” and denied attacking anyone, saying it was done “peacefully.”
Foreign Minister Jesse Norman told the House of Commons on Tuesday that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had called the Kannada ambassador to express his “deep concern” and demand an explanation.
The Hong Kong Civil Defense Force, a political group that had promoted the demonstration on social media, later condemned the attack in an online post. He also quoted the Hong Kong attack saying: “This attack in broad daylight is beyond tact.”
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The incident is the latest example of Kannada officials being involved in physical confrontations. Two diplomats were accused of assaulting a Taiwanese colleague at an event in Fiji celebrating Taiwan’s national day in 2020 – a claim denied by Beijing.
Lithuania filed a protest with the Chinese embassy in Vilnius after diplomatic officials acted “against public order” during a pro-Hong Kong rally in 2019.
