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Another cold war in the era: US orders China to close Houston consulate, China vowed to retaliate
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China have reached their lowest point.
On Tuesday, documents were seen burning in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston. Later that day US ordered China to close the consulate within 72 hours, citing efforts to protect American intellectual property and the private information of its citizens. US officials also alleged it was part of a larger Chinese espionage effort using diplomatic facilities around the US.
David R. Stilwell, from the State Department, said Chinese attempts in research theft has increased in the past 6 months and that the Chinese officials and diplomats were recently arrested for using false identification. He described the Houston consulate, which he said “has a history of engaging in subversive behavior,” as the “epicenter” of research theft by the Chinese military in the United States.”. Recent accused espionage campaigns include coronavirus vaccine research in US. A US Justice Department official also reckoned the Consulates giving individuals network guidance on how to evade and obstruct US investigation, possibly with a network of associates nationwide.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday it will revoke the license for the U.S. consulate general in Chengdu as its 'firm countermeasures'. Chinese official claimed that US holds full accountability in the events.
The consulate was closed Wednesday but people were photographed looking at signs outside the main facility that announced that the building was shuttered.
While the Chinese Consul General in Houston, Cai Wei, said China is protesting the closure order and his office will remain open “until further notice”, staff were seen leaving after deadline for closure passes. US federal agents and local law enforcement entered the emptied premises by force later on. The signage 'Consulate General of the People's Republic of China' has been removed.
Such dispute about cousulate emerged this spring after China interfered when US officials returned to the consulate in Wuhan to retrieve diplomatic materials, according to a senior State Department official. Chinese authorities refused to let the US officials leave Wuhan with the pouches, saying they had to search them before leaving, an aggressive move that violates the Vienna Convention which governs diplomatic relations.
On top of consulates, major issues hampering U.S.-China relations included XinJiang, Huawei, trade war, intellectual property and disputes over the South China Sea.
Source:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/07/22/houston-fire-and-police-responding-to-reports-of-documents-being-burned-at-consulate-general-of-china/?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/23/china-refuses-commit-close-houston-consulate-380220
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/24/china-orders-us-to-close-consulate-in-chengdu.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.PostToFacebook&fbclid=IwAR1nhCbtEz5L03HmOaPZi9TYhAbnxmXumjSMfb0mq8qC0_fE5nagOnVwG8Y
#ColdWar #US #China
Another cold war in the era: US orders China to close Houston consulate, China vowed to retaliate
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China have reached their lowest point.
On Tuesday, documents were seen burning in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston. Later that day US ordered China to close the consulate within 72 hours, citing efforts to protect American intellectual property and the private information of its citizens. US officials also alleged it was part of a larger Chinese espionage effort using diplomatic facilities around the US.
David R. Stilwell, from the State Department, said Chinese attempts in research theft has increased in the past 6 months and that the Chinese officials and diplomats were recently arrested for using false identification. He described the Houston consulate, which he said “has a history of engaging in subversive behavior,” as the “epicenter” of research theft by the Chinese military in the United States.”. Recent accused espionage campaigns include coronavirus vaccine research in US. A US Justice Department official also reckoned the Consulates giving individuals network guidance on how to evade and obstruct US investigation, possibly with a network of associates nationwide.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday it will revoke the license for the U.S. consulate general in Chengdu as its 'firm countermeasures'. Chinese official claimed that US holds full accountability in the events.
The consulate was closed Wednesday but people were photographed looking at signs outside the main facility that announced that the building was shuttered.
While the Chinese Consul General in Houston, Cai Wei, said China is protesting the closure order and his office will remain open “until further notice”, staff were seen leaving after deadline for closure passes. US federal agents and local law enforcement entered the emptied premises by force later on. The signage 'Consulate General of the People's Republic of China' has been removed.
Such dispute about cousulate emerged this spring after China interfered when US officials returned to the consulate in Wuhan to retrieve diplomatic materials, according to a senior State Department official. Chinese authorities refused to let the US officials leave Wuhan with the pouches, saying they had to search them before leaving, an aggressive move that violates the Vienna Convention which governs diplomatic relations.
On top of consulates, major issues hampering U.S.-China relations included XinJiang, Huawei, trade war, intellectual property and disputes over the South China Sea.
Source:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/07/22/houston-fire-and-police-responding-to-reports-of-documents-being-burned-at-consulate-general-of-china/?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/23/china-refuses-commit-close-houston-consulate-380220
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/24/china-orders-us-to-close-consulate-in-chengdu.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.PostToFacebook&fbclid=IwAR1nhCbtEz5L03HmOaPZi9TYhAbnxmXumjSMfb0mq8qC0_fE5nagOnVwG8Y
#ColdWar #US #China
KPRC
US orders China to close Houston consulate amid swirling accusations of espionage, theft
Houston police and fire officials are responding to reports that documents are being burned in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.