President Tsai Ing-wen says the government is closely monitoring Washington’s demand that China close its consulate in Houston, Texas by Friday. Tsai was speaking Thursday.
The United States demanded the consulate’s closure unexpectedly on Tuesday. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the US made the decision because China was "stealing" its intellectual property. Beijing has strongly condemned the move and threatened to take retaliatory action.
Tensions between the world’s two superpowers have continued to rise since China’s imposition of a national security law for Hong Kong last month.
Tsai said that Taiwan will continue monitoring the latest developments in US-China ties. If necessary, Tsai said that the government will put contingency plans into effect, because the escalating tensions will affect neighboring countries as well.
China has five consulates in the US, not including the embassy in Washington, DC. US President Donald Trump has said it is "always possible" that he will order the closure of more Chinese consulates.