Focus: GS-II International Relations
Why in news?
China warned it will be forced to respond after the U.S. ordered the shutdown of its Houston consulate.
Details
- Washington gave China 72 hours to close the consulate “to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information”, marking a dramatic escalation of tension between the world’s two biggest economies.
- Chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee described the Houston Consulate as the “central node of the Communist Party’s vast network of spies & influence operations in the United States”.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry described the U.S. allegations as “malicious slander”, and that China must make a necessary response and safeguard its legitimate rights.
Sharp deterioration
U.S.-China ties have deteriorated sharply this year over issues ranging from the pandemic and telecoms-gear maker Huawei to China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and its clampdown on Hong Kong.
Recently in News: Click Here to read more about US & India Conducting a Joint Naval Exercise
-Source: The Hindu
