The United States has abruptly ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, accusing diplomats of aiding economic espionage and the attempted theft of scientific research as the Trump administration sharply escalates its moves against China.
China vowed to retaliate, calling the action illegal. Hours after the administration issued its order on Tuesday, consulate employees burned papers in open metal barrels in a courtyard of the Houston building, prompting police officers and firefighters to rush to the area.
The move comes as President Trump’s campaign strategists, anxious about his failures on the pandemic, are pushing a comprehensive anti-China message in an appeal to Mr Trump’s supporters.
It was unclear what had immediately prompted the crackdown on the consulate, which must close by Friday, although the State Department said China was directing “massive illegal spying and influence operations.”
According to Ms Morgan Ortagus, the spokesperson for the Department, they aimed the order at protecting American “intellectual property and American private information.
“The U.S. will not tolerate the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people.
“This is just as we have not also tolerated the PRC’s unfair trade practices, theft of American jobs, and other egregious behaviour,” Ortagus said.
Reacting, Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesman, Wang Wenbin, described the development as an “unprecedented escalation” of U.S’ action against China.
“The unilateral closure of China’s consulate general in Houston within a brief period is an unprecedented escalation of its recent actions against China.
“We urge the U.S. to immediately revoke this erroneous decision. Should it insist on going down this wrong path, China will react with firm countermeasures,” Wenbin said.
He also accused the U.S. government of harassing Chinese diplomats and consular staff members.
Wenbin also alleged that the U.S. had also been intimidating, interrogating Chinese students and confiscating their personal electrical devices.
NAN reports that trouble started on Tuesday evening when a fire broke out at the Chinese consulate in Houston.
