China has actually threatened retaliation after the US bought its Houston consulate to close – with people later on appearing to burn documents outside the structure. If the decision is not reversed,

Beijing called the decision “outrageous” and cautioned of difficult action.

The US State Department stated it was needed “to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information”.

Authorities stated they reacted to reports of a fire at the consulate on Tuesday night, with social media video and witnesses recommending documents were being burnt in bins.

Houston cops tweeted that smoke was seen in a yard location however that officers were not permitted to go into the structure.

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Stress are high over problems such as the brand-new Hong Kong security law

Personnel at the consulate have actually apparently been offered till 4pm on Friday to leave.

The closure comes amidst stress in between China and the US over a variety of problems such as Hong Kong’s questionable national security law, the South China Sea disagreement, trade, the Uighurs, and the coronavirus break out.

The State Department did not explain on accurate factors for the closure.

Nevertheless, representative Morgan Ortagus stated the US would “not tolerate the PRC’s (China’s) violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people, just as we have not tolerated the PRC’s unfair trade practices, theft of American jobs, and other egregious behaviour”.

China rapidly countered, stating the closure was “an unprecedented escalation of… recent actions against China”.

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“We urge the US to immediately revoke this erroneous decision,” stated foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

“Should it insist on going down this wrong path, China will react with firm countermeasures.”

He likewise implicated the US of “interference, infiltration and confrontation” versus Chinese interests and stated its Washington embassy had actually gotten bomb risks.

America is not the only Western power to be going through choppy diplomatic waters with China.

The UK is stopping its Hong Kong extradition treaty over the brand-new security law and has actually bought all Huawei technology to be removed out of the UK’s 5G network.

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