China says US ordered to shut Houston consulate, warns of ‘necessary’ measures

China threatened to retaliate with “necessary” measures after United States reportedly ordered Beijing to close its Consulate General in Houston within 72 hours. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged US to immediately reverse decision, warning that orwise, China will “certainly” make legitimate and necessary reactions.

Wang called order unprecedented and illegal under international law and accused US of harassing Chinese diplomats and consular staff in America. Foreign Ministry spokesperson also claimed that administration has been intimidating Chinese students and confiscating ir personal electrical devices, and even detaining m without cause.

US told China to shut its diplomatic consulate in Houston, serving ar blow to already deteriorating relationship over several issues ranging from maritime disputes, coronavirus pandemic, and intellectual property ft. After Trump administration tified China about its decision, Houston police and fire departments responded to reports of a fire in consulate building.

Houston police said that its officers responded to a firefighter call from China Consulate General in Houston building at 3417 Montrose Blvd. police department informed that smoke was observed in an outside courtyard area but y were t allowed inside building. It is believed that smoke billowed from documents being dumped into flaming barrels.

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Two Chinese hackers indicted

latest order by US comes after Department of Justice charged two Chinese hackers working with Guangdong State Security Department for hacking into computer systems of hundreds of victim companies, governments, n-governmental organizations, and individual dissidents among ors.

On July 21, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said that United States wants a global coalition to counter threat of Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Addressing a joint press briefing along with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Pompeo said that coalition will work collectively to convince CCP to t eng in intellectual property ft, bullying neighbours, and co-opting international institutions.

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