US orders closure of Chinese consulate in Houston

US- China relation is at an all time low. In what is called an “unprecedented escalation”, the United State government has abruptly ordered China to “ cease all” operations and events at its consulate in Houston, Texas, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

US State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the consulate was directed to close “in order to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information.”

On July 21, police in Houston said they responded to reports of smoke in the courtyard outside the consulate. According to a video shared by local media, it appeared to be officials inside the compound burning documents.

In a statement posted on its official social media, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the order to close the consulate was a “political provocation unilaterally launched by the US side, which seriously violates international law, basic norms governing international relations and the bilateral consular agreement between China and the US.”

China said that it strongly condemns such an outrageous and unjustified move which will sabotage China- US relations.

China urged the US to immediately withdraw its erroneous decision, otherwise China will make legitimate and necessary reactions.

Earlier the US put restrictions on Chinese diplomats in June and last October respectively as part of the former’s opposition against Chinese policies.

Relations between China and the United States have plummeted in the past year amid an ongoing trade war, the coronavirus pandemic and the US criticism of China’s human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.