China Orders U.S. To Close Consulate In Chengdu

China has ordered the United States to close down its consulate in the city of Chengdu in retaliation for the U.S. closing down the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas. The Trump administration claimed that diplomats working in the consulate were conducting illegal activities, including espionage, and attempts to steal scientific research.

Chinese officials denied those accusations and blamed the U.S. for the current situation.

“The measure taken by China is a legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the United States,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. “The current situation in Chinese-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see. The United States is responsible for all this,” the ministry said. “We once again urge the United States to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track.”

The Trump administration defended their decision and blasted China for trying to expand their influence into other countries.

“If we bend the knee now, our children’s children may be at the mercy of the Chinese Communist Party, whose actions are the primary challenge today in the free world,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a speech in California. “General Secretary Xi is not destined to tyrannize inside and outside of China forever unless we allow it.”

Photo: Getty Images


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