On Tuesday evening, the US government ordered Chinese diplomats to close the country’s consulate in Houston, Texas, in 72 hours. International observers have discussed…
Providing no details on the abrupt demand to close the Chinese сonsulate, the US State Department claimed that the step was taken «in order to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information».
«[China] has engaged for years in massive illegal spying and influence operations throughout the United States against U. S. government officials and American citizens,» State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus stated while commenting on the development.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the closure of the People’s Republic’s diplomatic mission in Houston as an «unprecedented escalation», vowing to «react with firm countermeasures» if the US does not backtrack on its decision.
