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Xinhua: Washington Times Creating Rumors for Spy Allegation
A spokesman with the Xinhua News Agency Sunday refuted reports by the Washington Times saying the US newspaper tried to discredit the news agency by making fuss about a normal real estate transaction.
He accused the Times of "deliberately distorting the facts and creating rumours with an intention to make trouble.''
According to the spokesman, the Washington Times has published several reports since June 21 slandering the correspondents of Xinhua's overseas bureaux of "being engaged in spying,'' and claiming that the purchase of a new building by Xinhua's Washington Bureau is aimed to "gather intelligence from the Pentagon.''
"It is nothing but a rumour and smear. We are filled with great indignation, and we strongly refute the reports,'' the spokesman said.
He explained that the current office of Xinhua's Washington Bureau is in an apartment building on North 14 Street, Arlington, Virginia. Because the building is old and dilapidated, and the staff's working and living conditions are deteriorating, the bureau decided to purchase a new office building at the approval of the agency's headquarters in Beijing.
Advised by American real estate agents, the bureau chose an apartment building located at Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, VA, in early May 2000, formally informed the US State Department of the matter on May 22, and completed the needed procedures for the legal purchase of the property with the aid of local lawyers on June 15.
As in the past, the purchase by the Xinhua bureau was just a normal real estate deal done in conformity with American laws, the spokesman said.
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