Q: It is understood that recently a Chinese scholar tragically took his own life the day after being questioned by U.S. law enforcement personnel. What is the Chinese Consulate General spokesperson’s comment?

A: The incident occurred at a U.S. university within our consular jurisdiction, and we are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking death. Principal Officials of our Consulate General, acting under instructions from the Chinese Government, have protested multiple times to relevant departments of the U.S. government and the university concerned regarding this incident. We also got in touch with the scholar’s family at the earliest opportunity and actively assisted them in handling relevant matters.

For some time now, the U.S. has overstretched the concept of national security for political manipulation and groundlessly interrogated and harassed Chinese students and scholars. These moves infringe on Chinese citizens’ legitimate and lawful rights and interests, poison the atmosphere of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the U.S., and create a serious chilling effect. China solemnly calls on the U.S. to carry out a full investigation, give the family of the victim and the Chinese side a responsible explanation, stop any discriminatory law enforcement targeting Chinese students and scholars in the U.S., and stop imposing wrongful convictions.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, including students studying abroad. We have once again reminded Chinese students within our consular jurisdiction to enhance their safety awareness and to respond to U.S. law enforcement actions accordingly. In the event of similar situations, they are advised to contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulates General in the U.S. as soon as possible. Our Consulate General will continue to faithfully put into practice the principle of serving the people through diplomacy, and make every effort to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in our consular jurisdiction.