U.S. Orders Closure Of Chinese Consulate In Houston
By Bill Galluccio
July 22, 2020
The United States ordered China to close down its consulate in Houston, Texas. The State Department issued a statement saying the decision was made "to protect American intellectual property and American's private information."
Chinese officials blasted the decision, calling it an "unprecedented escalation."
"China demands the U.S. revoke the wrong decision. If the U.S. went ahead, China would take necessary countermeasures," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
On Tuesday (July 21) night, the Houston Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at the consulate but were denied entry. According to KPRC, Chinese officials were burning documents in the courtyard.
"You could just smell the paper burning," a witness told the station. "But, all the firefighters were just surrounding the building. They couldn't go inside."
Video recorded by somebody who lives near the consulate shows people throwing things into flaming bins.
This video shared with us by a viewer who lives next to the Consulate General of China in #Houston shows fire and activity in the courtyard of the building.
— KPRC2Tulsi (@KPRC2Tulsi) July 22, 2020
DETAILS SO FAR: https://t.co/2cOeKoap96 pic.twitter.com/0myxe6HIlC
A police official told the station that the consulate building will be closed by 4 p.m. on Friday and that everybody living at a nearby compound will be evicted.
The move comes one day after the Justice Department filed charges against two Chinese nationals accused of hacking organizations involved in coronavirus vaccine research.
Photo: Getty Images