US orders closure of China consulate in Houston

Tensions between the US and China were heightened after the State Department ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in the Texas city of Houston.

China flagged the closure earlier in the day with foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin telling a daily news briefing that the country had been notified on Tuesday that it must close the consulate.

This was confirmed by a State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus who said: "We have directed the closure of PRC Consulate General Houston, in order to protect American intellectual property and American’s private information."

“The United States will not tolerate the PRC’s violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people, just as we have not tolerated the PRC’s unfair trade practices, theft of American jobs, and other egregious behaviour.”

News reports on Tuesday stated that documents were being burned in a courtyard at the consulate.

“China strongly condemns such an outrageous and unjustified move, which will sabotage China-US relations,” Wang Wenbin said. “We urge the US to immediately withdraw its erroneous decision, otherwise China will make legitimate and necessary reactions.”

Chinese state media suggested the possibility of closing US consulates, posting a poll on social media asking users to choose between embassies in Hong Kong, Chengdu, Guangzhou or others.

Houston police and fire officials responded to reports that documents were being burned in the courtyard of the consulate Tuesday night, according to the Houston Police Department.