I don't think the people who did this realize how much of a gigantic diplomatic fuck-up it is to abduct someone from UK territory to drag them on Chinese territory to beat him up.

They work in the fucking consulate, they definitely understand. They dragged him into the consulate BECAUSE they understand - its attempt to avoid prosecution.

In all likelihood, this decision came from high up in the consulate - or could even have come over the phone direct from China - and is just another instance of China flexing its ever-growing muscles to see what it can get away with. Expect to see more and more of this stuff all around the world as China eclipses America.