This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-63296107

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
China defends violence at Chinese consulate in Manchester Chinese diplomat involved in protester attack, says UK MP
(about 2 hours later)
A man is pulled at the gate of the Chinese consulate during Sunday's protest against President Xi Jinping A protester is pulled at the gate of the consulate on Sunday - the consul-general is alleged to be in a mask and hat (far left)
China's foreign ministry has defended an incident which saw a Hong Kong protester pulled into Chinese consulate grounds in the British city of Manchester and beaten up. One of China's most senior UK diplomats was involved in violence against protesters at the Manchester consulate on Sunday, a British MP says.
A spokesman said people had "illegally entered" the grounds and any country's diplomats would have taken "necessary measures" to protect their premises. "What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest," Alicia Kearns told MPs in the House of Commons.
Police are investigating an assault on the pro-democracy protester on Sunday. MPs in Parliament have privilege, allowing them to speak freely without fear of legal action.
Footage shows men emerging from the consulate and dragging a man inside. China has not commented on Zheng Xiyuan's alleged involvement.
The violence has prompted loud calls for the UK government to summon China's ambassador, and possibly take further action. But the foreign ministry in Beijing defended the actions of consulate staff.
The protester, identified as Bob, suffered several physical injuries and spent a night in hospital for treatment. The police investigation is continuing. Spokesman Wang Wenbin said people had "illegally entered" the grounds and any country's diplomats would have taken "necessary measures" to protect their premises.
The official Chinese version 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.
After Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan ripped down the placards, Ms Kearns told MPs, 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."
Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate groundsWatch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds
Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate groundsWatch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds
But China is sticking to a different version of events from the police. According to a statement by the Greater Manchester Police, around 30 to 40 people had gathered outside the consulate to protest.
"People [who] intended to cause nuisance entered the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester illegally... threatening the safety of a Chinese diplomatic facility," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a daily press briefing in Beijing. "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.
He added that any attempt to infringe on the consulate's "tranquillity and dignity" would "not be tolerated".
According to a statement by the Greater Manchester Police, around 30 to 40 people had gathered outside the consulate and patrols were in the area to help maintain the "peaceful protest".
"Shortly before 4pm a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted," a police statement said.
"Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds.""Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds."
The consulate says protesters had displayed an insulting portrait of China's president. Another 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?"
Bob told BBC Chinese that "mainlanders" - people from mainland China, as opposed to Hong Kong - had come out of the consulate and destroyed their posters. Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman said the government had issued a summons to the Chinese charge d'affaires in London for an explanation.
"As we tried to stop them, they dragged me inside, they beat me up," he said. "It's ridiculous. They [the attackers] shouldn't have done that. We are supposed to have freedom to say whatever we want here [in the UK]." Mr Norman told the House of Commons: "We've already outlined a process of raising this formally with the Chinese embassy... and we will see where these procedures, these legal and prosecutorial procedures, may lead to, and at that point we will take further action."
The Chinese consulate in Manchester has not responded to BBC requests for comment Zheng Xiyuan on the right, and the man accused of being involved in the violence on the left
There are growing calls for the UK foreign secretary to summon China's ambassador in Britain for an explanation.
The BBC has contacted the Chinese consulate in Manchester and the embassy in London for comment but has not heard back.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong leader John Lee weighed in on the event, saying it should be dealt with in accordance with local laws.
Xi doubles down on zero-Covid as congress opens
Xi Jinping: From princeling to president
Five moments in fraught Hong Kong-China relations
The protest took place on the same day China kicked off its twice-a-decade Communist Party Congress, where its leader President Xi Jinping is widely expected to secure a third term in power.
Mr Xi had on Sunday made reference to the situation in Hong Kong, saying Beijing had turned the situation in the city from "chaos to governance".
Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the former British colony after pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.