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Editor's notes: the author is Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: [email protected])
The US orders abrupt closure of Chinese consulate in Houston, CNN reported: The United States government has abruptly ordered China to "cease all operations and events" at its consulate in Houston, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in what is called an "unprecedented escalation" in recent actions taken by Washington.
It seems the decision was taken in panic, even no reason or justification was given for this serious decision. Later on, probably, the US was engaged in fabricating some justification. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed the United States' closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas, saying the US would "take actions that protect the American people, protect our security, our national security."
China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said it was "outrageous and unjustified". He also informed that “in terms of the number of Chinese and American embassies and consulates in each other's countries and the number of diplomatic and consular staff, the US has far more people working in China,"
It is worth mentioning that the Sino-US relations were never very smooth, ups and downs were witnessed several times. But the closure of Consulate was a very serious matter and happened for the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in the 1970s.
There are incidents of closures of Embassies or consulates in history among many countries and nations, but when the tension reached extreme only. After the direct armed confrontation, closure of diplomatic missions is considered the most serious event. Usually, an aggressor country, closes the diplomatic mission of an enemy country, before the military attack. Or one can see the Military confrontation after the severing or lowering of diplomatic ties. In either case, the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston is a serious and dangerous matter.
Chinese Embassy in the US issued a statement: “China strongly condemns and firmly opposes such an outrageous and unjustified move which sabotages China-U.S. relations," the embassy said, noting that China is committed to the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs. "Because of the willful and reckless stigmatization and fanning up of hatred by the U.S. side, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has received threats to the safety and security of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel more than once," it said.
Generally speaking, such actions are reciprocated in the diplomatic world, which means, China may close some of the American Consulate in China. But, China is a responsible sate and century-old wisdom of Chinese people, give sufficient time to Americans to re-think their actions and revoke if possible. China believes in collective wisdom, and after giving sufficient time, may reciprocate with consultation among its core team. Abrupt decisions like the Americans did is a symbol of one man's dictatorship behavior.
That is what happened in Washington, first, one man takes abrupt decisions and then ask his team to fabricate a story to justify his personal wrong decisions. This happened in case of closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston. First, they closed the consulate abruptly, without giving any justification, and then, his team has fabricated a story, stealing the intellectual property of not the only US but also of Europe, which causes loss of job and revenue for them.
Some people are linking it with the Presidential campaign, but it will be irrational that for domestic issues, international relations be disturbed. It might work, as, it worked in case of India, where the votes are based on Hate-Pakistan. The more one can hate-Pakistan, the more votes he or she can attract. The same is the practice in Israel, Hate-Arab is a card to attract voters. However, President Donald Trump is a close friend of Netanyahu and Modi. He might be influenced by his close friends Netanyahu and Modi. However, this is not a good practice and should be condemned as much as possible.
Domestic issues should be addressed domestically, there is no need to internationalize domestic issues and harm any other country.
It is hoped, that The US might take a review of his decision and revert back to the original position, without escalation. We wish resolution of all issues amicably and avert any confrontation in any part of the world, among all countries, nations, communities.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
