China blasts US charges against agents seeking man's return China is accusing the U.S. of seeking to smear its efforts to pursue overseas fugitivesBEIJING -- China on Thursday accused the U.S. of seeking to smear Beijing's efforts to pursue fugitives, a day after the Justice Department charged eight people with seeking to coerce a New Jersey man who was wanted by Beijing into returning to China to face charges. Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China was engaged in a “just cause to fight transnational crime and pursue fugitives and stolen goods internationally." “The U.S., out of ulterior motives, ignored the basic facts and discredited China’s efforts," Wang told reporters at a daily briefing. The U.S. should “bear international responsibilities and avoid being a haven for criminals," Wang said, adding that China's agents abroad followed local laws and protected the “legitimate rights and interests of suspects." All eight were charged with conspiring to act as illegal agents for China in a case filed in federal court in Brooklyn.

Source: ABC News October 29, 2020 09:50 UTC