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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

US Orders China to Close Its Consulate in Houston

The United States on Wednesday ordered China to close its consulate in Houston "to protect American intellectual property" and the private information of Americans.

BEIJING (AP) — The United States on Wednesday ordered China to close its consulate in Houston "to protect American intellectual property" and the private information of Americans.

China condemned the move, the latest in a series of steps by the Trump administration as it ratchets up pressure on the world's second-largest economy over trade, technology, human rights and security.

Firefighters responded to reports of papers being burned on the consulate grounds Tuesday night but were barred entry, according to Houston news media reports.

The United States did not provide any details on why the consulate in Texas was targeted.

"The United States will not tolerate (China's) violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people, just as we have not tolerated (its) unfair trade practices, theft of American jobs, and other egregious behavior," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

The consulate was informed of the decision Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, calling it "an outrageous and unjustified move that will sabotage relations between the two countries."

"The unilateral closure of China's consulate general in Houston within a short period of time is an unprecedented escalation of its recent actions against China," Wang said at a daily news briefing in Beijing.

He warned of stern countermeasures if the United States does not reverse itself. Besides its embassy in Beijing, the United States has five consulates in mainland China, in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan and Shenyang.

Houston media reports said authorities responded to reports of a fire at the Chinese Consulate. Witnesses said people were burning paper in what appeared to be trash cans, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing police.

Police were told that occupants were given until 4 p.m. Friday to leave the property, the Chronicle said.

Houston police said in a tweet that officers responded to "a meet the firefighter" call at the Chinese Consulate building at 3417 Montrose Blvd. The tweet said smoke was observed in an outdoor courtyard area, and that officers were not allowed to enter the building.

Wang accused the United States of opening Chinese diplomatic pouches without permission multiple times, confiscating Chinese items intended for official use and imposing restrictions on Chinese diplomats in the United States last October and again in June. He also said that U.S. diplomats in China engage in infiltration activities.

"If we compare the two, it is only too evident which is engaged in interference, infiltration and confrontation," Wang said.

He said the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. has received bomb and death threats, and accused the U.S. government of fanning hatred against China.

President Trump, his reelection prospects damaged by the coronavirus outbreak, has blamed China repeatedly for the pandemic. Almost every day brings a fresh U.S. action against what Trump has called the rising Asian superpower’s exploitation of America.

Already this week, the Commerce Department has sanctioned 11 Chinese companies for alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region and the Justice Department said two Chinese citizens stole intellectual property and targeted companies developing coronavirus vaccines.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to continue the attacks Thursday in a speech on U.S.-China relations at the Nixon Library in California.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying U.S.-China relations face their most severe challenge since diplomatic ties were established in 1979, asked recently if the two nations would be able to stay the course after a more than four-decade voyage.


By KEN MORITSUGU

Categories / Government, International

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