Beijing vows to retaliate after US demands the closure of Houston consulate
The Chinese Foreign Ministry is vowing to retaliate in a dramatic escalation of tensions after it said the United States had demanded Beijing close its consulate in Houston.
Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the US made the demand on Tuesday and described the US move as “unprecedented escalation”.
Wang said the Chinese embassy and consulates in the US had received both explosives and death threats recently.
“China demands the US revoke the wrong decision. If the US went ahead, China would take necessary counter measures,” Wang said.
Wang said China had shown goodwill to US diplomats in China and had promoted Sino-US ties through its envoys in the US.
“On the contrary, the US put restrictions on Chinese diplomats in June and last October respectively with no valid reason. [The US] has seized and opened mail and official supplies,” Wang said.
“Due to the deliberate smearing and hatred-inciting moves from the US, Chinese delegations in the US have recently received bomb threats and death threats.
“The US embassy in Beijing has also frequently published articles attacking China. It should be clear who is intervening and infiltrating others’ domestic politics, and who initiated confrontations.
“The US claims there’s an imbalance in Sino-US relations. This is their usual excuse and it is without grounds. In fact, judging by the number of diplomats and diplomatic institutions delegated, the US has a much bigger number than China.”
Wang’s disclosure came after Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of The Global Times, said on Twitter the US gave China 72 hours to close the consulate.
“This is a crazy move. The consulate general is the first Chinese CG in the United States. The US has not only asked to close it, but requested evacuation within three days. This is absolute madness. There is apparently no bottom line for some people in Washington. The current US administration is willing to do anything now,” Hu said.
Earlier on Wednesday, US media reported that Houston police and fire officials responded to reports that documents were being burned in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston on Tuesday night, citing the Houston Police Department.
Houston PD said they began receiving reports just after 8pm that documents were being burned at 3417 Montrose Boulevard where the consulate is located, click2houston.com reported.
Beijing and Washington are now at odds on almost every front, ranging from engaging in a global blame game over the deadly coronavirus to human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. In the past few months, Beijing has expelled a dozen journalists representing US media while Washington has imposed new visa restrictions on Chinese nationals working as journalists in the US.
In December, Washington quietly expelled two Chinese diplomats suspected of espionage after they drove to a sensitive military base in Virginia. But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang rejected the claims when asked by media and called the accusations “completely contrary to the facts”.
The Chinese consulate general in Houston could not be reached by the South China Morning Post.
According to its official website, the consulate general of China in Houston “was the first one to be established” in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic relations.
The consular district covers eight southern US states, namely Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and an unincorporated territory, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Purchase the 120+ page China Internet Report 2020 Pro Edition, brought to you by SCMP Research, and enjoy a 30% discount (original price US$400). The report includes deep-dive analysis, trends, and case studies on the 10 most important internet sectors. Now in its 3rd year, this go-to source for understanding China tech also comes with exclusive access to 6+ webinars with C-level executives, including Charles Li, CEO of HKEX, James Peng, CEO/founder of Pony.ai, and senior executives from Alibaba, Huawei, Kuaishou, Pinduoduo, and more. Offer valid until 31 August 2020. To purchase, please
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- China labels US demand as ‘unprecedented escalation’
- US media reported that Houston emergency services were called to reports that documents were being burned in the courtyard of the Consulate General in Houston
The Chinese Foreign Ministry is vowing to retaliate in a dramatic escalation of tensions after it said the United States had demanded Beijing close its consulate in Houston.
Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the US made the demand on Tuesday and described the US move as “unprecedented escalation”.
Wang said the Chinese embassy and consulates in the US had received both explosives and death threats recently.
“China demands the US revoke the wrong decision. If the US went ahead, China would take necessary counter measures,” Wang said.
Wang said China had shown goodwill to US diplomats in China and had promoted Sino-US ties through its envoys in the US.
“On the contrary, the US put restrictions on Chinese diplomats in June and last October respectively with no valid reason. [The US] has seized and opened mail and official supplies,” Wang said.
“Due to the deliberate smearing and hatred-inciting moves from the US, Chinese delegations in the US have recently received bomb threats and death threats.
“The US embassy in Beijing has also frequently published articles attacking China. It should be clear who is intervening and infiltrating others’ domestic politics, and who initiated confrontations.
“The US claims there’s an imbalance in Sino-US relations. This is their usual excuse and it is without grounds. In fact, judging by the number of diplomats and diplomatic institutions delegated, the US has a much bigger number than China.”
Wang’s disclosure came after Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of The Global Times, said on Twitter the US gave China 72 hours to close the consulate.
“This is a crazy move. The consulate general is the first Chinese CG in the United States. The US has not only asked to close it, but requested evacuation within three days. This is absolute madness. There is apparently no bottom line for some people in Washington. The current US administration is willing to do anything now,” Hu said.
Earlier on Wednesday, US media reported that Houston police and fire officials responded to reports that documents were being burned in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston on Tuesday night, citing the Houston Police Department.
Houston PD said they began receiving reports just after 8pm that documents were being burned at 3417 Montrose Boulevard where the consulate is located, click2houston.com reported.
Beijing and Washington are now at odds on almost every front, ranging from engaging in a global blame game over the deadly coronavirus to human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. In the past few months, Beijing has expelled a dozen journalists representing US media while Washington has imposed new visa restrictions on Chinese nationals working as journalists in the US.
In December, Washington quietly expelled two Chinese diplomats suspected of espionage after they drove to a sensitive military base in Virginia. But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang rejected the claims when asked by media and called the accusations “completely contrary to the facts”.
The Chinese consulate general in Houston could not be reached by the South China Morning Post.
According to its official website, the consulate general of China in Houston “was the first one to be established” in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic relations.
The consular district covers eight southern US states, namely Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and an unincorporated territory, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Purchase the 120+ page China Internet Report 2020 Pro Edition, brought to you by SCMP Research, and enjoy a 30% discount (original price US$400). The report includes deep-dive analysis, trends, and case studies on the 10 most important internet sectors. Now in its 3rd year, this go-to source for understanding China tech also comes with exclusive access to 6+ webinars with C-level executives, including Charles Li, CEO of HKEX, James Peng, CEO/founder of Pony.ai, and senior executives from Alibaba, Huawei, Kuaishou, Pinduoduo, and more. Offer valid until 31 August 2020. To purchase, please
Forced closure of Chinese consulate could cause lasting damage, observers say
Washington fails to give a reason for the unprecedented move, saying only it ‘will not tolerate [China]’s violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people’.
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