美国就单方面要求中方关闭驻休斯敦总领馆散布的谎言与事实真相 Reality Check of US Unilateral Demand for China to Close Consulate-General in Houston

On 21 July, the US made the unilateral provocation by making an outrageous demand that China close its Consulate-General in Houston. By so doing, the US has grossly violated international law, the basic norms of international relations, and relevant provisions of the China-US Consular Convention, and gravely damaged China-US relations. China has made legitimate and necessary response.
2020年7月21日，美方单方面挑起事端，突然要求中方关闭驻休斯敦总领馆，严重违反有关国际法和国际关系基本准则以及中美领事条约有关规定，严重破坏中美关系。中方就此做出了正当和必要的反应。

The US has been fabricating pretexts and spreading lies about its egregious decision. In a matter of just a few days, the US has churned out different versions of the story. Lies, however, will always be lies even if they are repeated a thousand times. The different versions of the story concocted by the US side have no factual base and mix black with white. In sum, the US has failed to present even one single piece of solid evidence. It is important that we list US false allegations vis-à-vis the facts. The purpose is to debunk the falsehoods and let people know the truths.
美方为其错误决定编造借口、散布谎言，在短短几日之内就抛出多个说法不一的版本。但是谎言重复一千遍仍然是谎言。美方所炮制的种种说辞，有的是无中生有，有的是颠倒黑白，拿不出一条真凭实据。对此，有必要把美方谬论和实际情况列举出来，以正本清源，还事实和真相一个清白。

1. False: China has stolen intellectual property from the US, including the COVID-19 vaccine research achievements. Closing the Chinese Consulate-General is "to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information".
谎言1：中国窃取美国知识产权，包括新冠肺炎疫苗研发成果。闭馆是为了保护美知识产权和美公民私人信息。

True: The US side is talking sheer nonsense. It has failed to back its allegation with even one single piece of solid evidence. The reality is, China is a big country in terms of innovation and intellectual property. It has become a main source driving intellectual property growth in the world. On COVID-19 vaccine research and development, China has been at the forefront and has no need to steal from the US .
事实：美方信口开河，从未拿出一条确凿证据证实其说法。事实上，中国是全球创新大国和知识产权大国，已成为世界知识产权发展的主要推动力。在新冠肺炎疫苗研发方面，中国处于领先地位，毫无理由窃取美方相关知识产权。

◆ China is a big country in terms of innovation and intellectual property. It has kept strengthening the protection of scientific innovation and intellectual property rights. China is now among the world's leading players in terms of scale and growth rate of innovation input. Its R&D expenditure had grown from RMB 300.31 billion yuan in 2006 to RMB 1.96779 trillion yuan in 2018, an average annual increase of 17% and rising from the sixth to the second in the world. China has the world's biggest number of researchers. China's IP offices have received the highest number of patent applications for nine years in a row. China also registered rapid increase in international patent applications and has risen to the world's second biggest filer via WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) System. As pointed out in the WIPO annual report, China has become a main driving force for the overall growth in the global demand for intellectual property rights.
◆中国是全球创新大国和知识产权大国，一直在不断加大科技创新和知识产权保护力度。中国创新投入的规模和增速进入世界领先行列，研发经费支出从2006年的3003.1亿元增长到2018年的19677.9亿元，年均增长17%，世界排名从第6位上升至第2位。研发人员数量稳居世界第一位。中国受理的发明专利申请量连续9年位居世界第一。近年来，中国的《专利合作条约》国际专利申请量发展也很快，已经跃居全球第二位。世界知识产权组织发布的年度报告指出，中国已成为世界知识产权发展的主要推动力。

◆ China is one of the global leaders in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines. At the moment, Chinese scientists are working on multiple vaccine projects along five technical routes. Vaccines with China's independent intellectual property have entered clinical trials. The Beijing Institute of Biological Products under the China National Biotec Group, a subsidiary of the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), has set up the world's largest production plant for COVID-19 vaccines. China's National Medical Products Administration and other competent authorities are working to facilitate the deployment of vaccines. China is also working with relevant countries on vaccine research and development, production and distribution.The US accuses China of stealing its research outcomes. Such accusations are a total disrespect to the hard work of Chinese scientists and malicious slanders against China's COVID-19 response. They have seriously undermined international cooperation on vaccine research and disrupted the global response against the disease.
◆中国在新冠肺炎疫苗研发方面处于领先地位。目前，中国科研攻关组按照5条技术路线布局多项疫苗研发任务。中国拥有自主知识产权的疫苗已经成功进入临床试验。中国国药集团中国生物北京生物制品研究所已经率先建成了全球最大的新冠肺炎疫苗生产车间。中国国家药监局等主管部门也正在全力推动新冠肺炎疫苗研发上市。中国正在同有关国家积极加强疫苗研发、生产和分发方面的合作。美国诬称中国窃取其疫苗研发成果，不仅是对中国科学家辛勤付出的极不尊重和对中国抗疫成果的恶意抹黑，也严重损害全球疫苗研发合作，破坏国际抗疫合作。

◆ The Houston Chronicle, Cable News Network (CNN), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) all called the reason "to protect American intellectual property", as cited by the US State Department in its order to close the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston, suspicious.The real aim of the US decision was to deflect people's attention from the US administration's poor handling of COVID-19. Closing the Chinese Consulate-General prior to the election was a measure by Trump to "play tough on China", hold up his declining approval rating, and turn China into a convenient target to vilify and shore up votes. New moves acting on the absurd logic that "China is ripping off America" pop up almost every single day in the US.In the midst of a presidential re-election campaign and with the US economy battered by the disease, Trump is convinced that playing the "China card" gives him political advantages. The actions taken by the US side, which are largely driven by internal politics, would only make China-US relations even more strained.
◆《休斯敦纪事报》、美国有线电视新闻网、美国哥伦比亚广播公司、英国广播公司等报道认为，美国务院声称要求关闭中国驻休斯敦总领馆是针对所谓“中国窃取知识产权的行为”的理由令人生疑。此举目的是转移人们对美政府抗疫不力的关注。美关闭中国驻休斯敦总领馆是特朗普在选举前对中国采取的强硬措施，以支撑其不断下降的支持率，中国成为其最易攻击和用来拉抬选情的目标。美国几乎每天都有针对所谓“中国剥削美国”荒谬论调的新行动。在美国大选季来临、美国经济受到疫情严重打击之际，特朗普认为“打‘中国牌’具有政治优势”，这在一定程度上是由美方从国内考量的角度推动的，只会使中美之间的紧张关系更加恶化。

2. False: China is using its talent recruitment programs to steal scientific research and intellectual property from research institutions such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center and from energy and high-tech companies in the Houston area.
谎言2：中方在美国通过人才招募计划，在得克萨斯大学安德森癌症研究中心这样的科研机构和休斯敦地区能源和高科技公司盗取美科研成果和知识产权。

True: These are trumped-up charges made by the US under the presumption of guilt against the normal scientific and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. China's efforts in attracting talent from abroad are no different in essence from customary practices of other countries. These efforts are above-board and beyond reproach.
事实：美方对中美正常的科学、人文交流合作搞有罪推定，罗织“莫须有”罪名。中国的人才引进工作与国际通行做法无本质区别，光明正大，无可指摘。

◆ The cross-border movement of talent in the era of globalization has facilitated technological and economic advances worldwide. Countries are all actively carrying out international exchanges and cooperation on talent. What China is doing in this respect is in essence not different from other countries' practices.
◆全球化时代，人才跨国流动，推动了全球范围内技术和经济的进步。世界各国都在积极开展国际人才交流合作。中国人才引进工作与世界其他国家的通行做法并无本质区别。

◆ Closer exchanges and cooperation between China and the US on science and technology serves the interests of both sides. According to the Global AI Talent Tracker released in mid-June by MacroPolo, the in-house think tank of the Paulson Institute, 29% of top-tier AI researchers working in the US received undergraduate degrees in China. Thus, the US global lead on AI has much to do with the talent supply from China.
◆中美加强科技等领域交流与合作，符合双方共同利益，包括美方利益。美国保尔森基金会旗下“马可·波罗”智库6月中旬发布的《全球人工智能人才追踪》报告显示，中国的大学为美研究机构培养了近三分之一的相关人才。美在人工智能领域取得全球领先地位与中国的人才供给密不可分。

◆ What the US government is doing conflicts with its self-claimed ideals of openness and freedom as well as the commitments publicly made by its leaders. It runs counter to the global trend of talent exchanges worldwide, and has brought grave negative impact on the normal people-to-people exchange and personnel inter-flow between the two countries.
◆美国政府所作所为，与其自我标榜的开放自由等理念和美领导人公开作出的承诺背道而驰，与开展国际人才交流的时代潮流背道而驰，给中美正常人文交流与人员往来带来严重消极影响。

3. False: The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston has a history of engaging in "subversive behavior". It is the central node of the Communist Party's vast network of spies and influence operations, and the epicenter of efforts by the Chinese military to send students to the US to obtain information that could advance its warfare capabilities. It has engaged for years in massive illegal spying and influence operations.
谎言3：中国驻休斯敦总领馆从事颠覆性行为，是中共在美庞大间谍和影响力活动网的核心节点，也是中国军方通过向美派遣留学生来提升战争优势的中心，一直进行大规模“非法”间谍和意识形态宣传行动。

True: Since its opening, the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston has always observed international law and US laws, and stayed committed to promoting friendship between the two countries. There are no spying activities or influence operations as claimed by the US. By fabricating such claims, the US is simply "measuring others' corn with its own bushel".
事实：中国驻休斯敦总领馆开设以来，一直遵守国际法和美当地法律，致力于促进中美友好，不存在美方臆造的“间谍”活动和意识形态宣传。美方说法是以己之心度人之腹。

◆ China always pursues the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. Infiltration and interference is never in the genes or tradition of China's foreign policy. Dedicated to advancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in the US abide by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral treaties and US laws.
◆中方一贯坚持不干涉别国内政原则，渗透、干涉别国内政从来不是中国外交的基因和传统。中国驻美外交机构始终致力于促进中美两国人民互相了解和友谊，遵守《维也纳外交关系公约》、《维也纳领事关系公约》、中美双边条约及当地法律。

◆ The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston was the first consular mission opened in the US following the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties. In the past four decades and more, it worked hard to promote friendship and cooperation between the two peoples, and enhance mutual understanding and all-round cooperation between the two countries in various sectors. While COVID-19 raged on in the southern states of the US, the Consulate-General donated masks to Houston and Harris County, actively facilitated anti-virus cooperation between China and the southern states, and assisted Shanghai, Shandong and Shenzhen of China in donating medical supplies to Houston.
◆中国驻休斯敦总领馆是中美建交之后中方在美国开设的第一个总领馆。40多年来，该馆坚持致力于促进两国人民的友谊与合作，致力于促进中美各界的相互了解和各领域合作。针对美南地区疫情持续蔓延，中国驻休斯敦总领馆分别向休斯敦市和哈里斯郡捐赠口罩，并积极搭建中方同美南地区开展抗疫合作的桥梁，协助上海市、山东省、深圳市分别向休斯敦捐助了防疫物资。

◆ The composition and number of the staff at the Consulate-General in Houston was open information to the US side. It runs counter to the common sense in diplomacy to accuse the Consulate-General of being the central node of the Communist Party's vast network of spies and influence operations, and the epicenter of efforts by the Chinese military to send students to the US to obtain information that could advance its warfare capabilities. Such a claim is also very preposterous.
◆中国驻休斯敦总领馆的人员构成和数量对美方是公开的。把该馆说成是中国在美间谍和影响力活动网的核心节点以及中国军方通过向美派遣留学生来提升战争优势的中心，有违外交常识，十分荒谬。

◆ Some staff of the US Embassy and consulates-general in China have been engaged in activities incompatible with their capacities, interfering in the internal affairs and undermining the security interests of China. The US Embassy often publishes on its website articles attacking China and China's political system. It is reported that the staff of the US Consulate-General in Hong Kong met covertly with "Hong Kong independence" elements during the turbulence surrounding the proposed legislative amendments in Hong Kong to discuss US sanctions on Hong Kong, interfering in Hong Kong's affairs. China has lodged representations on multiple occasions.
◆美国驻华使领馆一些人员从事与其身份不符活动，干涉中国内政，损害中国安全利益。美驻华使馆经常在其官网公然刊登攻击中国和中国政治制度的文章。据媒体报道，美驻香港总领馆在“修例风波”期间同“港独”分子密会，讨论美企图制裁香港等事宜，插手香港事务。中方多次就此提出交涉。

◆ In July 2018 and January 2020, the US side opened Chinese diplomatic bags twice without permission. This was a flagrant breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. It also grossly violated China's diplomatic dignity and security interests.Hence China's diplomatic and consular missions lodged strong representations at the first opportunity. The US side did not deny what had actually happened, but kept exonerating its wrongful behavior with technical excuses in an attempt to shirk responsibility. The US behavior and response ran counter to international law and the norms of international relations, and therefore must be condemned. In addition to opening diplomatic pouches, the US side has since 2018 forcibly unpacked the office supplies of Chinese missions on at least 13 occasions.
◆2018年7月、2020年1月，美方两次擅自开拆中方外交邮袋，这一举动公然违反《维也纳外交关系公约》《维也纳领事关系公约》，严重侵犯中方外交尊严和安全利益。事件发生后，中国驻美外交机构第一时间向美方严正交涉，美方并未否认相关事实，但一再以技术理由为其错误行径进行开脱，推卸自身责任。美方上述行径与国际法和国际关系准则背道而驰，应该受到谴责。除外交邮袋外，自2018年以来，美方擅自开拆中方公务物品至少13次。

◆ The New York Times questions the assertion that "the Houston Consulate-General had a history of engaging in 'subversive behavior' and was the 'epicenter' of research theft in the US", and it believes that there is no evidence to support this allegation.
◆《纽约时报》质疑有关中国驻休斯敦总领馆有从事“颠覆活动”的历史、是中国盗取美国科研成果的“中心”的说法，认为没有任何证据。

◆ An editorial of Houston Chronicle reads that China is the Houston region's second-largest trading partner and it has benefited from having the Consulate-General in the city. For more than 40 years, the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston has served as a symbolic bridge, facilitating travel, trade and cultural ties between Houston and China. For decades, China has been an important trading partner of Texas in key sectors such as energy, oil, chemicals, science and technology, which will bear the brunt of the US move. The closure will also have a direct impact on passport and visa application in the regions covered by the Consulate-General, and will put a heavy damper on the desire of Chinese citizens to study, travel and work in the US. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was shocked by the US decision. He expressed his hope that friction between the US and China, whatever it may be, can be resolved peacefully and that at some point in time the Consulate-General will reopen.
◆《休斯敦纪事报》社论称，中国是休斯敦地区第二大贸易伙伴，该地区从中国驻休斯敦总领馆受益良多。40多年来，休斯敦总领馆已成为休斯敦地区同中国旅游、贸易和文化交流的桥梁。数十年来，中国一直是得克萨斯州能源、化工、科技等关键产业的重要贸易伙伴。美方此举将危及得州工业发展。关闭总领馆将直接影响领区内人员申办护照或签证，并将大大降低中国公民将来赴美学习、旅行和工作的热情。休斯敦市市长西尔维斯特·特纳对美方关闭中国驻休斯敦总领馆感到震惊，希望美中和平解决分歧，重启中国驻休斯敦总领馆。

◆ According to US Congressman Al Green, communities of Asian Americans in Houston have already been discriminated against because of President Trump's comments against China and their work and the safety of their families are under threat. The closure of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston will make the situation worse. He called for not treating all Asian Americans as spies and fully evaluating the potential damage these words and actions may do to the American people and thinking more for their sake.
◆美国联邦众议员阿尔·格林表示，休斯敦地区有大量亚裔美国人，他们已经因为特朗普的反华言论受到歧视，工作和家人安全面临威胁，关闭中国驻休斯敦总领馆将使这种情况更加糟糕。格林呼吁不要将所有亚裔都当作间谍，要充分评估相关言行可能给美国人民带来的伤害，多为美国人民着想。

4. False: Chinese Consul-General in Houston and two other diplomats were recently caught using false birth information at the security check of an airport in Houston to escort Chinese travelers to the gate area of a charter flight.
谎言4：中国驻休斯敦总领事和另外两名外交人士最近被发现在休斯敦机场安检区使用虚假生日信息护送中国旅客到包机登机口。

True: The US allegation could not be further from facts. The staff of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston have always followed international law and American local laws when performing their duties in the US.
事实：美方说法完全不符合事实。中国驻休斯敦总领馆人员在美履职一贯遵守国际法和当地法律。

◆ All diplomats and consular staff must obtain identification cards from foreign affairs authorities of the host country, thus their personal information including date of birth is no secret, but open information to such authorities. This is common sense.
◆外交领事人员到任后，需领取驻在国外交部门发放的身份证件，其个人信息包括生日信息对驻在国外交部门是公开的，不是秘密。这是常识。

◆ The said Chinese consular officers used consular ID cards issued by the US State Department and entered the restricted area of the airport upon approval from the US side to take care of Chinese nationals who were taking the temporary flight back to China due to COVID-19.
◆中方领事人员使用的是美国务院发放的领事官员身份证件，进入机场限制区域得到美方批准，目的是照料受新冠肺炎疫情影响搭乘临时航班回国的中国公民。

5. False: There is a complete lack of reciprocity between the US and China in the treatment of diplomatic and consular staff. The US concerns over the treatment of its diplomats and consular officers in China have gone unresolved.
谎言5：美中驻彼此国家外交领事人员待遇完全不对等，美方对美驻华外交领事人员待遇的关切始终得不到解决。

True: China supports and provides necessary facilitation for the performance of all lawful, normal official acts in China by foreign diplomatic and consular officers including those from the US. It is the US that has imposed unjustified restrictions on and created barriers for Chinese diplomats and consular officers in the US.
事实：中方一贯支持包括美国在内的各国驻华外交领事人员依法在华开展正常公务活动，并提供必要便利。相反，美方对中国驻美外交领事人员无端设限，人为制造障碍。

◆ The US figure far outnumbers China's when it comes to diplomatic and consular missions and staff. China has five diplomatic and consular missions in the US, while the US has six in China. It is reported that there are more than 1,000 staff in the US Consulate-General in Hong Kong alone.
◆就中美驻对方国家使领馆数量和外交领事人员数量而言，美方远多于中方。中国驻美使领馆共5个，美国驻华使领馆共6个，据媒体报道，仅美驻香港总领馆工作人员就达1000多人。

◆ China supports and provides necessary facilitation for the performance of all normal official activities in China by foreign diplomatic personnel including those from the US. A former US ambassador to China visited each of China's provinces within his three-year term.
◆中方一贯支持包括美国在内各国驻华外交人员在华开展正常公务活动，并提供必要便利。前美国驻华大使在3年内跑遍了中国所有省份。

◆ In October 2019 and June 2020, the US made unilateral provocations by imposing restrictions on the activities of Chinese diplomats and consular officials in the US. Such restrictions are a serious violation of the relevant rules of international law and the basic norms governing international relations.For example, all Chinese members of China's foreign missions in the US are required to submit a written notification to the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) of the State Department of all official engagements with any local government representatives, as well as all official visits to any educational or research institutions. Such notifications must be submitted five business days prior to the planned engagement date. All Chinese military personnel assigned to the Chinese Embassy or a consular post, as well as those temporarily visiting, are required to provide OFM notification five business days prior to any travel plan, for official or private purposes, which is in excess of a 25-mile radius of their places of work or the US ports of their entry.In the face of the unreasonable provocations of the US, China has no choice but respond with legitimate and reciprocal countermeasures as necessary.
◆美方于2019年10月、2020年6月两次单方面挑起事端，对中国驻美外交领事人员在美活动设限，严重违反有关国际法规则和国际关系基本准则。比如，要求所有中国驻美外交领事人员正式会见美地方政府代表、正式访问美教育或研究机构时，须提前5个工作日书面通知美国务院使团办公室；所有派驻中国驻美使领馆的军方人员包括临时访美的军方人员公务或因私活动范围超过任职所在地或入境口岸25公里半径范围，须提前5个工作日通知该办。面对美方无理挑衅，中方不得不做出必要、正当的对等反应。

6. False: The US demanded the closure of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston because China did not accord facilities for the reopening of the US Consulate-General in Wuhan and the exemption of nucleic acid testing of returning US diplomats.
谎言6：美方要求关闭中国驻休斯敦总领馆是因为中方没有为美国驻武汉总领馆重启及美驻华外交官返华核酸检测豁免等提供便利。

True: China has never set up obstacles for the return of diplomats and consular officials of other countries, including the US. Quite the contrary, China has provided necessary facilities for them to perform duties in accordance with law.
事实：中方未对包括美在内各国驻华使领馆人员返华设置障碍。恰恰相反，中方为其依法履职提供了必要便利。

◆ On 25 January, the US unilaterally announced the temporary closure of its Consulate-General in Wuhan and the evacuation of the personnel therefrom. China accorded facilities for the departure of the personnel, for which the US expressed appreciation at different levels. Records are available for verifying the fact.
◆1月25日，美方单方面宣布临时关闭驻武汉总领馆并撤离总领馆人员。中方为美方人员撤离提供了便利。美方在多个层级向中方表示感谢。这都有案可查。

◆ In June, some US diplomats returned to Wuhan. Since then, China has accorded facilities to the US Consulate-General to perform its functions in accordance with law.
◆6月，部分美外交人员已返回武汉。中方为美总领馆依法履职提供便利。

◆ On the basis of respecting their privileges and immunities, China has applied nucleic acid testing equally to all foreign diplomats and consular officials entering China. This arrangement is also accepted by the US. The so-called issue of nucleic acid testing is simply an excuse.
◆中方在尊重各国驻华外交领事人员特权和豁免的基础上，要求对所有入境人员一视同仁进行核酸检测，美方也接受这一安排。所谓核酸检测问题纯属借口。

7. False: The US side claims that its demand to take over the premises of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston is consistent with relevant US laws and regulations.
谎言7：美方声称其要求接管中国驻休斯敦总领馆房产符合美相关法律规定。

True: The outrageous and unreasonable demand of the US seriously violates a number of international laws.
事实：美方蛮横无理要求严重违反一系列国际法。

◆ Both the land and the premises of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston are properties of the Chinese government.
◆中国驻休斯敦总领馆地皮和馆舍均为中国政府财产。

◆ According to Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the sending State may entrust another consular post or diplomatic mission it has in the territory of the receiving State with the custody of the premises of the consular post which has been closed, together with the property contained therein and the consular archives. China is entitled to entrust its Embassy or other consulates-general in the US with the custody of the premises of its Consulate-General in Houston. The unreasonable demand of the US side to take over the premises of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston seriously violates the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and infringed on China's legitimate rights and interests.
◆《维也纳领事关系公约》第27条规定，派遣国有权责成在驻在国其他外交领事机构保管已关闭之领馆馆舍及其中财产和档案。中方有权指定中国驻美使馆或其他总领馆接管驻休斯敦总领馆房产。美方无理要求接管中国驻休斯敦总领馆房产，严重违反《维也纳领事关系公约》规定，侵犯了中方的正当权益。

◆ Both the land and premises of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston are China's state property. Even if relevant premises are not covered by consular privileges and immunities, the relevant property is still protected by international law.
◆中国驻休斯敦总领馆地皮和馆舍均为中国的国家财产，即使退一万步讲，有关房产不再享受领事特权与豁免，有关财产仍受国际法的保护。

8. False: The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston threatened dissidents and refugees with the Fox Hunt operation.
谎言8：中国驻休斯敦总领馆通过“猎狐行动”威胁异见分子和难民回国。

True: Chinese law-enforcement authorities engage in international law-enforcement cooperation in accordance with international law and on the basis of respecting the sovereignty and laws of other countries. The targets are fugitive suspects, not "dissidents and refugees" as claimed by the US side.
事实：中国执法机关根据国际法，在尊重外国主权和法律基础上开展对外执法合作，所针对的并非美方所谓“异见分子和难民”，而是外逃嫌犯。

◆ Combating transnational crimes is a broad consensus of the international community. China's judicial and law-enforcement cooperation with other countries are aimed at repatriating fugitives, and upholding the sanctity of law and social justice. China will step up its efforts in fugitive repatriation and return of the criminal proceeds, and bring the suspects to justice.
◆打击跨国犯罪是国际社会的广泛共识。中国与各国开展司法执法合作，抓回外逃嫌犯，是维护法律尊严和社会正义。中方将进一步加大境外追逃追赃力度，将嫌犯绳之以法。

◆ By portraying fugitives as dissidents and refugees, the US side is distorting basic facts and offering itself as a safe haven for criminals. Its deep-rooted Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice have been fully exposed.
◆美方将嫌犯视为异见分子和难民是颠倒黑白，无视基本事实，甘当避罪天堂，充分暴露其根深蒂固的冷战思维和意识形态偏见。

9. False: Diplomats working in Chinese Consulate-General in Houston are Chinese spies. Chinese spies are stirring up trouble all over the world.
谎言9：中国驻休斯敦总领馆外交官为中方特工人员，中方特工人员在全球制造麻烦。

True: Meddling in other countries' internal affairs is never in the DNA of China's diplomacy. Chinese diplomats, who are working vigorously to advance China's friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with other countries, have never engaged in activities incompatible with their status.
事实：干涉他国内政不是中国外交的基因。中国外交官积极推动中国对外友好交往和务实合作，从未从事与其身份不符的活动。

◆ China is committed to growing its relations with other countries on the basis of such principles as mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. Chinese diplomats have always followed the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the laws of their host countries when they promote China's bilateral ties, and friendship and cooperation with their host countries.
◆中方一贯坚持在相互尊重、互不干涉内政等原则基础上发展同其他国家的关系。中国外交官一贯遵守《维也纳外交关系公约》和《维也纳领事关系公约》，遵守驻在国法律，做促进中国同驻在国双边关系发展、促进友好合作的事情。

◆ The US allegation that Chinese diplomats at the Consulate-General in Houston have carried out espionage in Australia and other US allies is made up out of thin air. It is like measuring others' corn by one's own bushel. It is common sense for diplomats to rotate among different postings. The US has the world's largest diplomatic service. It is reported that the US Consulate-General in Hong Kong alone has more than 1,000 employees. The Five Eyes intelligence alliance headed by the US has long been engaged in large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber-theft,wire-tapping and surveillance against foreign governments,companies and individuals in violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. This is an open secret.
◆美方影射中国驻休斯敦总领馆外交官曾在美盟友如澳大利亚等国从事特工活动，是无中生有、以己度人的猜测。受政府派遣，外交官在各国轮换工作是外交常识。美国具有世界上最庞大的外交团队，据媒体报道，仅美驻香港总领馆工作人员就达1000多人。以美国为首的“五眼联盟”情报合作同盟长期违反国际法和国际关系基本准则，对外国政府、企业和个人实施大规模、有组织、无差别的网络窃密与监听、监控，这是公开的事实。

◆ From Wikileaks to Snowden, from the arrest of former ALSTOM executive Pierucci to the Crypto AG scandal, there are enough facts to show who is the world's largest spy factory and troublemaker.
◆从“维基解密”到“斯诺登事件”再到“法国阿尔斯通前高管皮耶鲁齐被捕事件”和“瑞士加密机事件”，事实已证明谁是全球最大的特工制造方和麻烦制造者。

◆ A Foreign Policy article noted that "Houston is an odd pick to target for intelligence allegations" and that "the activities cited by the administration are vague."
◆美国《外交政策》杂志文章称，美国以“间谍特工活动”为由关闭中国驻休斯敦总领馆是一项“奇怪的决定”，美国政府提出的理由含糊不清。

10. False: The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston openly criticized Hong Kong pro-democracy camp and supported nationalist counter protests on campus. The Consulate-General has planted informants on campus, tried to influence Chinese students through propaganda and undermined freedom of speech.
谎言10：中国驻休斯敦总领馆在校园公开批评香港泛民派人士，支持带有民族主义色彩的反制活动，总领馆在美校园安插眼线，向留学生实施宣传，破坏言论自由。

True: The "China-supported counter protests", as claimed by the US, were spontaneous, rational patriotic actions by Chinese students in exercising their freedom of speech. It is the US who has intentionally condoned anti-China actions on campus by certain rioters seeking to destabilize Hong Kong.
事实：美方所谓“中方支持的反制活动”是广大中国留学生自发形成的理性爱国行为，是他们的言论自由。反而是美方有意纵容个别乱港分子在美国校园中的反中乱港行为。

◆ Certain anti-China elements seeking to destabilize Hong Kong openly made radical remarks and inflamed violence on campus in total disregard of law. The Chinese students only came together to express their outrage in what is spontaneous, rational patriotic action. In doing so, they are also exercising their freedom of speech.
◆相关活动是中国广大留学生为表达对个别反中乱港分子在美国校园中公开发表极端言论、无视法律、煽动暴力的强烈愤慨，而形成的自发而理性的爱国行为，也是在行使他们的言论自由。

◆ China firmly opposes any separatist rhetoric or action. We support Chinese students' desire and aspiration to safeguard the unity of the country and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and encourage them to abide by local laws and regulations and express their patriotic sentiments rationally.
◆中方坚决反对任何分裂国家的言行，支持广大中国留学生维护祖国统一、香港繁荣稳定的愿望和诉求，希望中国留学生遵守当地法律法规，理性表达爱国热情。

◆ The US is using the pretext of "human rights" and "democracy" to whitewash the radical, violent criminal acts by anti-China forces seeking to destabilize Hong Kong, and condone their behaviors on US campus. The US has no interest whatsoever in the safety and well-being of Hong Kong residents. It only cares about its own selfish interests and hegemony, and has been using "human rights" and "democracy" as a fig leaf to interfere in other countries' domestic affairs.
◆美国借“人权”“民主”之名美化反中乱港势力的激进暴力犯罪行为，纵容个别反中乱港分子在美国校园中的行为。美国对香港居民的安全和福祉根本不感兴趣，满脑子想的仅是一己私利和霸权，所谓“人权”“自由”只是美方干涉他国内政的一块遮羞布。