The US State Department has announced that it has fired a US diplomat after he admitted to having a romantic relationship with a Chinese woman who allegedly has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The dismissal is believed to be the first of its kind for violating a ban on such relationships, which was instituted late last year under the Biden administration. A video related to the matter had been shared by activist James O’Keefe in August.
Citing State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott as saying, the New York Post reported that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed the case. They determined the diplomat was dismissed from the foreign service because he had “admitted concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national with known ties to the Chinese Communist Party.”
“Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, we will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any employee who is caught undermining our country’s national security,” Pigott stated.
Video that may have led to dismissal of US diplomat
While the State Department did not identify the diplomat, the case seems to have gained public attention after the diplomat and his girlfriend were featured in a video posted online by activist James O’Keefe.
“I Defied My Government for Love”, the caption on the video shared by O’Keefe quoted a person, believed to be the same diplomat. He is seen admitting that “She Could Have Been A Spy.”
“Her dad was either a provincial or a federal minister of education. So he's, like, straight up Communist Party. I was supposed to, whatever, sort of report what I knew about her, but I always thought that was kind of unfair,” the person said.
The ban that led to the dismissal was imposed during the final days of Joe Biden's presidency, as reported by The Associated Press. It prohibits all American government personnel in China, along with family members and contractors holding security clearances, from engaging in any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.
Citing State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott as saying, the New York Post reported that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed the case. They determined the diplomat was dismissed from the foreign service because he had “admitted concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national with known ties to the Chinese Communist Party.”
“Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, we will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any employee who is caught undermining our country’s national security,” Pigott stated.
Video that may have led to dismissal of US diplomat
While the State Department did not identify the diplomat, the case seems to have gained public attention after the diplomat and his girlfriend were featured in a video posted online by activist James O’Keefe.
“I Defied My Government for Love”, the caption on the video shared by O’Keefe quoted a person, believed to be the same diplomat. He is seen admitting that “She Could Have Been A Spy.”
“Her dad was either a provincial or a federal minister of education. So he's, like, straight up Communist Party. I was supposed to, whatever, sort of report what I knew about her, but I always thought that was kind of unfair,” the person said.
The ban that led to the dismissal was imposed during the final days of Joe Biden's presidency, as reported by The Associated Press. It prohibits all American government personnel in China, along with family members and contractors holding security clearances, from engaging in any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.
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