US fires diplomat for concealing romantic relationship with Chinese national linked to Communist Party

WASHINGTON, Oct 9 — US President Donald Trump’s administration said yesterday it fired a State Department employee who did not acknowledge a romantic relationship with a Chinese national.

“The State Department has officially terminated the employment of a Foreign Service officer who admitted concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national with known ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

The dismissed employee said his partner’s father was “straight-up communist party,” according to the State Department.

The Chinese Communist Party permeates life in the billion-plus country in areas from business to education, with many ordinary Chinese maintaining ties out of practicality as much as ideology.

The State Department said it was the first known dismissal taken under an executive order signed by Trump shortly after returning to office in which he ordered that all employees “faithfully implement the president’s policy.”

“We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any employee who is caught undermining our country’s national security,” Pigott said.

The United States earlier this year said it would restrict employees in China from entering romantic relationships with locals, a rare step reminiscent of the Cold War. — AFP

[Source: Malay Mail]