U.S. Government Shuts Down Texas-Based Chinese Consulate Following Fire

The strained relationship between China and the U.S. was only further fueled yesterday after the U.S. ordered the closure of a Chinese consulate. Late last night, Houston police and emergency services responded to the Texas-based consulate after receiving reports of smoke in the courtyard but were denied entry. Under the Vienna Convention, countries have this right to refuse such requests. However, its reported the cause of the fire was a result of officials burning documents. This led the U.S. government to order the immediate closure of the compound “in order to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry has referred to the decision as “political provocation unilaterally launched by the U.S. side, which seriously violates international law, basic norms governing international relations and the bilateral consular agreement between China and the U.S.” They claim they were shutdown without warning and have called for the U.S. to reverse the ruling or face “necessary reactions”.