Consular Immunity ‘Not Absolute’: Judge Sets Precedent in Case Against Chinese Official

Drew Pavlou on the campus of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, on Sept. 1, 2020. PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Images

BRISBANE—A new court ruling may determine whether diplomatic immunity extends to consular officials involved in threatening or harming locals.

The District Court case on March 13 was held regarding the 2019 incident when Chinese Consular General Xu Jie publicly lauded the assault of student activist, Drew Pavlou, at the University of Queensland (UQ).