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July 22, 2020

U.S. Orders China to Close Consulate in Houston
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The United States has abruptly ordered China to close its consulate in
Houston within 72 hours. Within hours of the order, smoke could be seen
from the consulate's courtyard, where it appears Chinese Consulate
workers were burning documents. A spokesperson for China's Foreign
Ministry called the closing of the consulate illegal under international
order.

Wang Wenbin: "The unilateral closure of China's Consulate General in
Houston within a short period of time is an unprecedented escalation of
its recent actions against China."

The State Department said the move to close the Chinese Consulate was
needed to "protect American intellectual property." On Tuesday, the
Justice Department indicted two Chinese residents, accusing them of
stealing trade secrets from U.S. firms, including research into a
coronavirus vaccine.


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