Zhao said China’s pandemic control measures were in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations…reports Asian Lite News
Beijing on Wednesday has expressed concern and dissatisfaction at the reported US bid to allow its diplomats to exit the country because of existing Covid pandemic-related restrictions.
The foreign ministry was reacting to a Reuters report from Washington, which said the US state department was considering whether to authorise departures for American diplomats and their families in China wishing to leave because of intrusive pandemic control measures, the Hindustan Times reported.
“Two sources familiar with the issue said the US Embassy on Monday had sent the request to Washington for formal sign off, as China ramps up Covid-19 containment protocols ahead of the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics in less than two weeks,” the Reuters report said.
The foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the decision was puzzling. “China is undoubtedly the safest country in the world at the moment, and withdrawing from the safest place will only greatly increase the risk of infection for US personnel. The logic of the US side’s decision is incomprehensible and difficult to justify,” he added.
Zhao said China’s pandemic control measures were in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Meanwhile, the United States Navy is scrambling to retrieve F-35, its most advanced fighter jet, which crashed in the depths of the South China Sea.
This race to get back the USD 100 million warplane is an extremely complex operation that experts say will be closely monitored by Beijing, American news network CNN reported.
The F-35C, the newest jet in the US Navy fleet, crash-landed on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson during routine operations on Monday.
At least seven persons were injured in a US F-35 jet crash on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, the Navy said.
The US Pacific Fleet said that the pilot of a US F-35 jet was conducting routine flight operations when the crash happened. But he was safely ejected and was recovered by a military helicopter and he is in stable condition.
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