• Beijing warns U.S. Consul General Julie Eadeh against meeting opposition figures.
• Cui Jianchun outlines four critical "don’ts" for U.S. diplomats in Hong Kong.
• The U.S. State Department emphasizes its right to advance U.S. interests internationally.
• Relations between the U.S. and China remain strained over democratic issues in Hong Kong.

The Chinese government has established strict guidelines for the newly appointed U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh. During a recent meeting, Cui Jianchun, the top Chinese diplomat in the region, laid out four crucial red lines, insisting that Eadeh should not meet specified figures, engage with pro-democracy activists, or interfere in national security matters in Hong Kong. The meeting is reportedly a response to Eadeh's invitation to local opposition figures to her inaugural reception, which sparked backlash from Beijing, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

The U.S. State Department has dismissed these warnings, contending that U.S. diplomats are tasked with advancing national interests and are not bound by China's directives on diplomatic conduct. A senior official emphasized that this is normal practice for diplomats globally, signaling that the U.S. will continue its diplomatic engagement in Hong Kong irrespective of China's objections, as reported by Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Cui's four "don’ts" include avoiding any collaboration with "anti-China forces," which he claims threaten Hong Kong's stability, and respecting national security protocols. This warning arrives amid heightened scrutiny of the U.S.'s diplomatic approach following controversial actions taken during previous administrations, notably Eadeh's engagement with protest leaders during the 2019 demonstrations, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

The ongoing exchange between the diplomats highlights the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China, especially concerning issues of governance and human rights in Hong Kong, which continues to face significant restrictions following the imposition of the National Security Law. Critics argue that these developments illustrate a wider pattern of authoritarianism in the region that has escalated since the protests, as noted by Reuters and Channel News Asia.