US planning to reopen consulate in China's Wuhan by late June amid rising tensions

US State Department informed Congress that it is planning to resume operations at US Consulate in Wuhan on or around June 22 as US-China relations are at  “critical juncture”. congressional tification from Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Mary Elizabeth Taylor stated that department stands rey to modify schedule according to conditions.

tification highlighted that it is critical for US that its diplomatic posts in China are staffed at “critical juncture” in US-China relations. In February, United States temporarily suspended regular visa services at its Embassy in Beijing and Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang. 

US Embassy, in a statement, said that y have very limited staffing and may be unable to respond to requests regarding regular visa services. virus outbreak prompted US to evacuate hundreds of Americans, nemergency personnel and families, and diplomats out of Wuhan with help of State Department-chartered flights.

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Why at 'critical juncture'?

US-China relations have hit a nir after Washington kept accusing China of lack of transparency and hiding coronavirus data. During a White House press briefing on coronavirus, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo h opined that China should have shared ir data sooner saying every country has obligation to share that information timely and accurately.

“Every country has that responsibility. It started in China and so y have that special responsibility to get it right quickly and fast,” he said.

Recently, US Senator Rick Scott claimed that China is trying to sabot or slowdown COVID-19 vaccine development by Western countries. Scott told BBC that United States has evidence related to China’s alleged attempt to sabot vaccine development by Western nations but didn’t give any details. He claimed that while Western countries are going to share vaccine with world, China is t going to share it and that’s why trying to sabot development.

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