Chinese embassy condemns Tibetan separatist attack in Sydney

The Embassy of China in Australia Thursday publicly condemned the violent attack by Tibetan separatists on the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney on the previous day.

"This is a very serious attack on diplomatic and consular institutions, which fully exposes the violent nature of the Tibetan separatists," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said on Thursday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Tibetan separatists stormed the forecourt of the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney, with one scaling a pole to pull down the Chinese national flag.

A 38-year-old woman assaulted a Chinese consulate officer while the victim was performing the duty, stopping the mob trying to enter the building.

A total of 10 people (five male, five female), including the 38- year-old woman, were detained by the New South Wales police.

A New South Wales Police spokeswoman said eight people have been charged to face court.

Since 1959, the Dalai Lama and his separatists have engaged in a series of violent incidents. Wednesday's attack on the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney is just another in a long history of examples.

The spokesperson said the Embassy of China has made serious representations to the Australian government, demanding the perpetrators to be penalized to the full extent of the law.

The embassy has also asked Australian authorities to "follow The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other international conventions, take concrete and effective measures, strengthen the protection of Chinese diplomatic and consular institutions and personnel, and ensure the inviolable safety, security and dignity of Chinese institutions and personnel," the spokesperson said.