BEIJING: The United States ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, escalating tensions between the world’s largest economies as President Donald Trump ramps up punitive measures against China ahead of the November US election. Beijing denounced the order Wednesday as “outrageous” and said it would draw a firm response if not reversed. Cai Wei, the Chinese consul general, told KTRK-TV in Houston the order to shut down was “quite wrong” and “very damaging” to US-China relations. Those factors led to Trump’s action, he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Although there was no indication the indictments and the consulate action were related, the US has long alleged China is involved in nefarious activity around the country, including from its Houston consulate.

Source: Manila Times July 23, 2020 17:21 UTC