world

U.S., China consulate closures deal losses to both nations

20 Comments
By MATTHEW LEE

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

20 Comments
Login to comment

Close down both countries' diplomatic missions, embassies and consulates until they learn that they can't dictate and threaten the rest of the world.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

"trade wars are easy to win"

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Houston was a good start. San Francisco and New York are just as much spy hotbeds. Shut them down.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

China has proved time and time again it is nothing but a communist dictatorship that hates fair competition and basic freedom.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Closing embassies or missions has no effect whatsoever on intelligence gathering. You do not have caucasian spies in China, you have Chinese spies in China and caucasian spies in US not Chinese. And as for passing information back to home countries, there are many many ways this can be done securely, there is a thing that is called Internet this days, not messenger pigeons. This article just blows smoke and sends a false message that they will have problems gathering info... The only people who will be affected are ordinary citizens who need a visa for tourism or need their passports renewed or seek political asylum...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

If only Washingjing opened an embassy in Taipei instead of engaging Beijington in a show of charade via closing of consulates then it could have been a big win for democracy.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

RecklessToday  05:03 pm JST

If only Washingjing opened an embassy in Taipei instead of engaging Beijington in a show of charade via closing of consulates then it could have been a big win for democracy.

I wonder though can allied island nations ever be able to thwart a massive mainland entity like China from a strategic point of view?

Yes, but only by making the cost too great for China. Bullies pick on smaller targets because they are easier to overcome. They don't target those bigger than themselves.

Taiwan needs to rename itself The Republic of Taiwan. re-write it's constitution and throw away any reference to "China", Taiwan is never going to take back the mainland. Declare itself a sovereign nation. apply for UN membership, and let China make a fool of itself trying to obstruct it before the whole world.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"If only Washingjing opened an embassy in Taipei instead of engaging Beijington in a show of charade via closing of consulates then it could have been a big win for democracy."

Taiwan would have to consent to host an official US Embassy. Doing so would probably be seen by China as a declaration of independence by Taiwan and a repudiation of the One-China policy by the US. It would probably lead directly to war. It would also immediately end all US owned businesses in China. GM and Caterpillar would lose their biggest markets. Boeing would lose its second biggest markets. GM and Boeing would lose all of their manufacturing plants there (yes, Boeing has an assembly hall in Zhoushan), costing both firms many billions in lost investment and sales revenues. It is not a decision to be taken lightly. It would probably be the end of any US - PRC relationship and probable war.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This article is a garbage mentioning small instances one after another. It was a big and serious decision to defend free world from the totalitarian communist country. We cannot let China dominate the world.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

It was a big and serious decision to defend free world from the totalitarian communist country.

It's certainly totalitarian. But bears little resemblence to the ideals of communism.

We cannot let China dominate the world.

And we cannot let the US, either.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

"Seriously, I have not been affected by either side. Perhaps because it only hurts those wealthy white collar criminals called foundations or fund managing partnerships? I can understand they would surely lose. As for the spying, please does this diplomat really think people are that gullible? Perhaps if he didn't read the speech from 2004 translated later in 2005 that pretty much covers just about everything today. Guess this person has never heard of NSA, CIA, FBI or covert ops and boots on the ground intel. Sorry , but not buying, it's not like they are using smoke signals these days.

While technical means are useful for intelligence gathering they are limited. There is no replacement for meeting face to face with people in the country from which a nation is gathering information in order to understand it. Some information a nation wants to know can only come from other people in that nation.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"There will be no need for embassies and consulates as spy satellites are probably covering most if the intelligence gathering now."

A satellite cannot tell you what is on people's minds. Only being there and meeting people face to face can tell you what they are thinking. It is how a nation obtains the inside view of an adversary.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This article is a garbage mentioning small instances one after another. It was a big and serious decision to defend free world from the totalitarian communist country. We cannot let China dominate the world.

I agree, the last thing we need is Communism to worm it’s way and take root in our country.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Wait for LA/SF/Seattle consulates to shut down. There aren't many Americans going to China anyway (students, tourists, workers.... etc)....while millions if not all of them will sell their arm/limb just to come to America.

Those students enrolled in US schools spying and stealing technology.... are heading home.... as soon as this thingy escalates. No more visa to anchor moms either.

Makes you wonder....they hate the US... yet they are dying to come to America. The Trumpet did not blink on the Wall, Iran, Nato and the DC Swamp....and so with this.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There will be no need for embassies and consulates as spy satellites are probably covering most if the intelligence gathering now.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

No US consulate in Chengdu and PROC consulate in Houston means nothin has changed.

It’s just a charade.

When the late President LTH wanted to change the ROC Constitution and declare TW-China relationship as State-to-State guess who stopped him from doin so?

Not Beijington but Washingjing!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"In shutting each other’s consulates, the United States and China have done more than strike symbolic blows in their escalating feud. They’ve also dimmed each other’s ability to observe — and to spy on — critical regions of their countries.“We’ll be flying blind if not with very dark glasses and so will they,” said Beatrice Camp, a retired career diplomat who served as consul general at the U.S. consulate in Shanghai from 2008 to 2011."

Seriously, I have not been affected by either side. Perhaps because it only hurts those wealthy white collar criminals called foundations or fund managing partnerships? I can understand they would surely lose. As for the spying, please does this diplomat really think people are that gullible? Perhaps if he didn't read the speech from 2004 translated later in 2005 that pretty much covers just about everything today. Guess this person has never heard of NSA, CIA, FBI or covert ops and boots on the ground intel. Sorry , but not buying, it's not like they are using smoke signals these days.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites