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by eiji 2151 days ago
Don't know if you are sarcastic here, but yes, the destruction of documents and "evidence" or traces is certainly expected. What isn't is the method in which it is done. The fact that they had to make a fire indicates they were cought unprepared, which is a position you don't want to be in. You want to have enough intelligence information from sources so you can destroy evidence without a rush or with your pants down like this. This is certainly seen as an embarrassment. Not more or less.
1 comments
nomel 2150 days ago
Or perhaps they realized that the few high security document destruction machines they had on site, for daily sporadic use, wouldn't be enough to destroy the complete collection of documents, accumulated over the last 41 years that they've been present, in a timely manner?

According to DoD 5220.22-M, 5-705, incineration is probably the only realistic method in this particular situation.

The US has done the same in the past. When a foreign government kicks you out, you can't say politely ask "ok, can you give us a week to finish up here?". Or are you suggesting that they should have known they were going to be kicked out and destroyed everything in preporation?

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eiji 2150 days ago
> Or are you suggesting that they should have known they were going to be kicked out and destroyed everything in preporation?

That's precisely what I'm trying to say. A campfire is certainly the fastest way to get the job done. It's just a very open public acknowledgement that you have stuff to burn. Every embassy or consulate on foreign soil has plenty of documents that are very confidential. Not all is criminal by any means. There is plenty of supporting material and analysis of economic concerns that are treated very confidential.

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nomel 2149 days ago
How would they have known, weeks in advance, for what is being reported as an "abrupt" decision? Guessing wrong would mean destroying everything without reason. How would they benefit from not waiting until the decision was actually made?

From the linked video:

> Images show people burning documents at China's consulate in Houston, a common practice when a diplomatic post is quickly abandoned.

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