WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department on Thursday brushed off a statement from the senior Chinese diplomat in Hong Kong warning the recently appointed U.S. consul general there against interference in the affairs of the Chinese-ruled city by colluding with anti-China forces.

“U.S. diplomats represent our nation and are charged with advancing U.S. interests globally, which is standard practice for diplomats around the world including in Hong Kong,” a senior State Department official said in a statement in response to the remarks about the consul-general, Julie Eadeh.

Cui Jianchun, China’s top diplomat in Hong Kong, issued a statement earlier on Thursday, saying he met Eadeh on Tuesday “to lodge solemn representations on her conducts (sic) since she assumed duties.”

The statemen

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