US orders China to close its consulate in Houston

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. says it has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston “to protect American intellectual property” and the private information of Americans. China is strongly condemning the move, which comes at a time of rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies. A foreign ministry spokesperson called it “an outrageous and unjustified move that will sabotage relations between the two countries.” He warned of firm countermeasures if