US asks China to shut its consulate in Houston in 72 hours

Houston, July 22: In an unprecedented move, the US government has asked China to shut its diplomatic consulate in Houston within 72 hours, to protect American intellectual property and American’s private information.

 

 

 

“We have directed the closure of PRC Consulate General Houston, to protect American intellectual property and American’s private information,” Ortagus said in an emailed statement. Adds the US “will not tolerate the PRC’s violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people”

 

An hour after the Trump administration notified the Chinese of its decision, Chinese employees at the Consulate General burned documents, other materials at the Consulate General. The incident came in light after Houston Police Department said that they started receiving reports that documents were being burned inside the courtyard of the Consulate General of China almost after 8 pm, Tuesday. Local media shared a video where people could be seen throwing things into the flaming bins.

 

 

Chinese foreign ministry condemned the US for closing the Chinese Consulate General in Houston and urged the US to immediately correct its mistakes. Otherwise, China will make a legitimate and necessary response. "The unilateral closure of China’s consulate general in Houston within a short period is an unprecedented escalation of its recent actions against China,” Wang said.

 

He added that China strongly condemns “such an outrageous and unjustified move that will sabotage China-U.S. relations.” “The unilateral closure of China’s consulate general in Houston within a short period is an unprecedented escalation of its recent actions against China,” Wang said and listed allegations of Washington harassing its diplomats and students in the US.