The US asks China to close the Consulate General in Houston Wang Wenbin: Strongly condemn it, and China will make a legitimate and necessary response
According to the "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Office," a reporter asked at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 22: According to a source from the US, the Chinese Consulate in Houston will be requested by 4 pm on July 24. Closed, consulate staff will be asked to leave. Can China confirm?
Wang Wenbin: On July 21, the U.S. suddenly requested China to close the Consulate General in Houston. This was a political provocation unilaterally initiated by the U.S. against China. It seriously violated international law and basic norms of international relations, seriously violated the relevant provisions of the Sino-U.S. consular treaty, and deliberately sabotaged. Sino-US relations are very arrogant and unreasonable. China strongly condemns it. China urges the US to immediately revoke the wrong decision. Otherwise, China will definitely make a proper and necessary response.
For some time, the U.S. government has continuously stigmatized China, stigmatized China, unprovoked attacks on China’s social system, unreasonably made things difficult for Chinese diplomatic and consulate personnel in the United States, intimidated, interrogated, and confiscated Chinese students studying in the United States. Personal electronic devices, even unprovoked detention. The U.S. unilaterally closed the Chinese Consulate in Houston for a limited time this time, which is an unprecedented escalation action taken by the U.S. towards China.
China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Infiltration and interference in other countries' internal affairs have never been the genes and traditions of China's diplomacy. The Chinese diplomatic mission in the United States has always been committed to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, China has facilitated the performance of duties by US diplomatic agencies and personnel in China. On the other hand, the United States imposed unwarranted restrictions on Chinese diplomats in the United States twice in October last year and June this year, opened Chinese diplomatic bags privately on many occasions, and seized Chinese official supplies. Due to the recent wanton stigmatization and incitement of hatred by the United States, the Chinese Embassy in the United States has recently received bombs and death threats against Chinese diplomatic agencies and personnel in the United States. The website of the US Embassy in China often publicly publishes articles attacking China. In contrast, the facts are clear at a glance who is interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and who is engaging in infiltration and confrontation.
The U.S. claims that U.S.-China relations are not equal. This is the usual excuse of the U.S. and it is totally unreasonable. In fact, in terms of the number of Chinese and American embassies and consulates in each other's country and the number of diplomatic and consular personnel, the United States far exceeds that of China.
We urge the US to immediately revoke the wrong decision. If the US insists on going its own way, China will definitely take measures to deal with it resolutely.