China Orders U.S. Chengdu Consulate To Close Amid Rising Tensions

China ordered the closure of the United States' consulate in Chengdu on Friday in response to a U. S. order to close China's consulate on Houston, Texas. Earlier this week, the U.S. closed the China consulate in Houston over alleged intellectual property theft and hacking. On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department charged four Chinese researchers with visa fraud in an alleged effort to gain scientific and technological knowledge. On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave a speech calling on the U. S. and its allies to "change Communist China, [or] Communist China will change us.” Coverage from right rated outlets focused on the alleged spying and alleged intellectual property theft, and tended to highlight Mike Pompeo's speech. Coverage from left-rated outlets also focused on Mike Pompeo's speech, but framed it as "provocative" and likely to "up the ante."