Ron Keller, the Dutch ambassador in Beijing, has been suspended following an alleged affair with a Chinese employee.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started an investigation. It also stated that Keller would not be active in his post while an investigation is bwing done. Keller was sent to China in December last year.

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According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the secret liaison came out just recently.

The Chinese woman involved in the case is believed to be an employee of the embassy. It is further reported that Keller met the woman several times at his official residence. The two are also believed to have exchanged explicit pictures.

Keller is not married. However, the newspaper stated that the affair made his position "vulnerable." There is no explicit rule against having a relationship with a local staff. In general, the foreign diplomats are advised against such relationships due to the risk of honey traps, potential blackmails or information leakage.

The Dutch foreign ministry has not commented on the situation yet, besides stating that all complaints are taken seriously and acted upon. It did not confirm as well whether or not the complaint pertained to a love affair. The ministry also did not disclose the identity of the complainant.

Keller is currently in The Netherlands and is unlikely to come back to China. He is the successor of Aart Jacobi. Keller is a veteran diplomat.  He had worked as ambassador in Russia, Ukraine and Turkey before his appointment as the ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to China and Mongolia.