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US Closure of Chinese Consulate Expected to Bring Retaliation

Joyce Huang

   Analysts say China is likely to soon order the closure of a U.S.
   consulate in China -- possibly in the cities of Shenyang or Wuhan -- in
   retaliation for the U.S. decision to close China's consulate in
   Houston, Texas, by Friday.

   There are also calls in Chinese media and in a Twitter poll for Beijing
   to "punch harder" by shutting the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong as U.S.
   President Donald Trump hints at closing more Chinese consulates in the
   U.S.

   Two analysts who spoke to VOA said that if the reciprocal closings
   escalate, the U.S.-China relationship will be on a downward spiral,
   with the worst yet to come.

   A new cold war

   "It is an escalation [of diplomatic tensions]. And it is a new cold war
   that's been launched step by step by the U.S. and China," said Sang Pu,
   a political commentator in Hong Kong.

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