Trump said closing more Chinese consulates in US 'always possible'

Washington DC: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, July 22 it was "always possible" he would order the closure of more Chinese consulates in the United States in the wake of the State Department's order to close Beijing's consulate in Houston.

Trump, at a White House news conference, noted that a fire was spotted on the Houston consulate's grounds after the State Department ordered the closure in 72 hours, marking a dramatic deterioration in relations between the world's two biggest economies.

The U.S. State Department said earlier on Wednesday the Chinese mission in Houston was being closed "to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information."Overnight in Houston, firefighters went to the consulate after smoke was seen. Two U.S. government officials said they had information that documents were being burned there.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the consulate was operating normally. The ministry said Washington had abruptly issued the demand to close the consulate on Tuesday and called it an "unprecedented escalation."