Beijing has threatened retaliation on the surprise decision. The United States has "abruptly" ordered China to close its Houston consulate, Beijing said Wednesday.
The Texas-based consulate received the order to cease all operations on Tuesday. "China urges the US to immediately withdraw its decision or China will definitely make a proper and necessary response," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
"Such an outrageous and unjustified move that will sabotage China-US relations," added Wenbin. A US State Department spokesman said the closure was ordered to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information.