Continuing with mounting tensions, on Wednesday the United States ordered the Chinese Consulate in Houston, TX to be closed by Friday. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this was retaliation for Chinese IP theft.
State Department officials say that the consulate was the “epicenter of theft” for China. Later in the day, Justice Dept officials also accused China of trying to hack Covid-19 labs. It is not clear that this was generally connected to the consulate.
Having the US close large nations’ consulates as a punitive measure is increasingly common. During Obama’s Administration, Russian consulates were constantly being shuttered or ordered to eliminate staff.
China said the move was “unbelievably ridiculous,” and threatened retaliatory countermeasures. The US has seven consular posts or other diplomatic sites in China, which could lead to a tit-for-tat move. Whether or not they do this, President Trump suggests more consulates could be closed.
B over at Moon of Alabama has the actual explanation: China won’t let US diplomats, who left when the virus occurred, back in without a quarantine period. The US State Department is ticked off, claiming they have diplomatic immunity and don’t have to obey China’s rules. So Trump is using this as another excuse to bash China and ramp up tensions so he can get re-elected.
Best to close the consulate in Hong Kong in retaliation, with it’s 1000 spies.
All other concerns aside, this shows how stupid the notion of internationally recognized intellectual property is.
A system that at it’s core relies on potential threat of Nations able too destroy the world going too war…. Maybe we find a system of research promotion that doesn’t rely on force in all directions too function.
China needs to understand that the US has declared war on China, it started with Obama ( Pivot to Asia ), continues more aggressively with Trump ( that`s why he was chosen ) first the nice photo ups with Xí Jìnpíng and the whole Trump family at Mar-a-Lago…..and before Xí could count to 10…..Bang.
We are still in the beginning of a long phase ( preparation ) and the next or next POTUS will bring it to a boiling point.
For the heavy leaking U.S.S empire there is no turning back.
China is in reaction and complain mode and will be bullied until it takes it`s silk gloves off and shows some decisive action and powerful retaliatory countermeasures.
By now China must know whats coming, it could use 10-15 more years to fully match or outmatch the US, the empire wont wait for that to happen.
China and Russia need to officially declare a defense alliance, they are both on top of the empires enemy list….first China, then Russia.
Russia was on top of British Empire list of enemies for centuries. It got worse after international finance rolled into Britain by the end of 18th century. Royalty once in a while bucked the pressure, but money always wins. This is only the continuation. But now royalty and aristocracy have been thoroughly defanged, and are playing to the same tune any feeble politician is.
China and Russia are partners. Starting with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter. The mission of the Organization — “a new, more just world order’. For those that are seeking a formalized, defined, structured alliance Western style, do not understand East. Look at the principles of SCO. Unlike EU or NATO, there is no concept of a block. EU and NATO control tightly what members can do, who to talk to, trade with, purchase services from. There is no such thing with SCO. Instead of having principles like UN — it has how to implement them. All the principles are about organizational conduct. When Russia and China established joint labs, scientific, military — no questions, as they are not alliance. When the two presidents announced cooperation in military development — to avoid duplication, still no questions , as they are not alliance. Still waiting to spell it out? Why bother. The proverbial handwriting is on the wall.
Thanks for your comment and insight, i agree.
People are Chinese water carriers here now?
Only when it’s so obvious that anyone with a brain would insinuate that an embassy/consulate burning documents is nefarious./
Its like there is a race on to see who can wipe out the species the fastest. We’ve got the vaccine makers, the economic destroyers, the supply-chain destroyers, the warmongers, the bioweapons researchers, and folks like Gates, Soros, and other globalists all pulling the strings while they sit back and watch the show.
Russia and China are allies. It is not a NATI or EU style. There are no limits to friendships, trade or security understandings, except that all actions are for one’s benefit — never at somebody else’s expense or fir the same of harm. Organization links security, economic development and cultural links. They are not separated. Joint research, and development of weapons indicate high degree of cooperation and low degree of transparency. One forgets that India and Pakistan are permanent members. The conflicts are step by step resolving colonial era baggage, while addressing domestic politics. What I am saying is — hope US does not read too much into India-China border issue, nor India-Pakistan conflict, Nor into Philippines maritime issue — and to look carefully at Japan and South Korea trade issues. The entire region is changing, and Trump bluster will not affect the pace of change,
If there is going to be a military conflict — it will be an “accident”. And the chosen outcome will.be something akin Crimea. Impossible to challenge.
insecure amerikan children cannot compete with the adults in China—another example of amrikan antiauthoritarian childish tantrums…expected from an empire near collapse