The US has told China to close its consulate in Houston, further deteriorating bilateral ties. A source said Beijing was considering shutting the US consulate in Wuhan in retaliation.
Washington “abruptly demanded” closure of the Houston consulate on Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry said. The editor of an official media outlet said China had been given 72 hours to do so.
The State Department said the move was made “to protect American intellectual property and American’s private information”. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeated accusations about Chinese theft of US and European intellectual property.
Local media later reported documents had been burned in a courtyard at the consulate. — Reuters
