US SHUTS DOWN CHINESE CONSULATE IN TEXAS
The United States has shut down the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas.
The consulate was reportedly shut down over theft of intellectual property
According to CNN, the Houston Police responded to reports of smoke in the consulate located on Montrose boulevard on Tuesday.
Subsequently, some officials of the consulate were said to be seen burning some documents.
Spokesperson for the US State Department, Morgan Ortagus, told CNN the consulate was shut down in order to preserve American intellectual property and information of citizens.
Mike Pompeo, secretary of state, said the US would go to any length to protect its security and economy.
“We are setting out clear expectations for how the Chinese Communist Party is going to behave,” he said.
“And when they don’t, we’re going to take actions that protect the American people, protect our security, our national security, and also protect our economy and jobs.”
Responding to the development, Hua Chunying, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said the reasons the US Government gave for closing down the consulate is ridiculous and described the action as an unprecedented escalation.
“While Chinese diplomats are promoting mutual understanding and friendship, the US embassy in China publicly attacks China’s political system.
“As a result of smears and hatred fanned up by the US government, the Chinese embassy has received bomb and death threats,” Chunying said.
Both countries have had a weak relationship since the outbreak of COVID-19 which emerged from Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
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