China has ordered the United States to shut down its consulate in the western city of Chengdu, in the latest escalation of tensions between the two nations.
The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement that the decision was a “legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable actions taken by the United States”, after the Trump administration ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston this week, and accused Beijing of trying to steal classified medical and other research in Texas.
“The current situation between China and the United States is something China does not want to see, and the US bears all responsibility for that,” the ministry said. It added, “We once again urge the United States to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track.” Beijing further condemned Washington engaging in “malicious slander” against China, and warned that the US’ actions were “breaking down the bridge of friendship” between the two countries.
Relations between the US and China two nations have worsened in recent months as the two nations continue to lock heads over China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, its aggression in the South China Sea, the new national security law in Hong Kong, the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang and security measures in Tibet. Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally rejected Beijing’s maritime claims in the SCS and deemed them illegal. The United States has also imposed sanctions on senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party and on businesses for their involvement in human rights abuses targeting Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Both sides recently introduced tit-for-tat visa restrictions on officials involved in formulating policies for Tibet. The two countries are also sparring on nuclear arms control negotiations along with Russia.
China has retaliated with sanctions against US officials including former presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio over Washington’s “interference” in China’s internal affairs in Xinjiang. The Chinese foreign ministry has also said that the government will impose sanctions on aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin for its involvement in the latest $620 million US arms sale to Chinese-claimed Taiwan.
Speaking at the Richard Nixon presidential library on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on “freedom-loving nations” to use more “creative and assertive ways” to pressure the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to change its ways. He stressed that “securing our freedoms from the CCP is the mission of our time” and said that the US was ready to lead the way. “If the free world doesn’t change, Communist China will surely change us,” he added.
China Orders Closure of US Consulate in Chengdu
Beijing says it is a “legitimate and necessary” response to “unreasonable” US actions.
July 24, 2020
New spokesman for Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin in Beijing on July 17, 2020. SOURCE: REUTERS