By MATTHEW LEE, Related Press Diplomatic Author
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Division stated Wednesday that it has fired a U.S. diplomat over a romantic relationship he admitted having with a Chinese language lady alleged to have ties to the Chinese language Communist Social gathering.
The dismissal is believed to be the primary of its sort for violating a ban on such relationships that was launched late final 12 months below the Biden administration.
The Related Press reported earlier this 12 months that within the waning days of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency, the State Division imposed a ban on all American authorities personnel in China, in addition to members of the family and contractors with safety clearances, from any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese language residents.
Tommy Pigott, a State Division spokesman, stated in a press release that the diplomat in query was dismissed from the overseas service after President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed the case and decided that 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.
The assertion didn’t establish the diplomat, however he and his girlfriend had been featured in a surreptitiously filmed video posted on-line by conservative firebrand James O’Keefe.
In Beijing, a Chinese language authorities spokesperson declined to touch upon what he stated is a home U.S. challenge. “But I would like to stress that we oppose drawing lines based on ideological difference and maliciously smearing China,” the Overseas Ministry’s Guo Jiakun stated at a every day briefing.
Related Press author Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
Initially Revealed: October 9, 2025 at 9:25 AM EDT
