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Trump says ‘always possible’ he’ll shut down more Chinese consulates after Beijing vows retaliation for Houston facility closure
US President Donald Trump said he could shutter additional Chinese consulates following the closure of a diplomatic facility in Texas, leaving the door open for further escalation as tensions soar between the two nations.
The comment came during a White House presser on Wednesday, following the State Department’s decision to order a Chinese consulate in Houston to shut down within 72 hours “in order to protect American intellectual property and Americans,” according to a department spokesperson.
“I guess they were burning documents and burning papers,” Trump said, referring to the Chinese consulate staff.
Beijing has slammed the move as an “unprecedented escalation,” accusing Washington of “harassing Chinese diplomatic and consular staff in the US” while vowing to respond with “firm countermeasures” if the decision is not reversed.
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