US officials called the Chinese consulate in Houston the site of suspected spying. The US asked the consulate to close this week.

• US officials said that the FBI has been investigating the Chinese Consulate in Houston over espionage concerns, NBC News reported.
• The US government ordered the consulate to close earlier this week and gave it until Friday to do so. 
• There were reports of people burning papers not long after the order was given.
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The Chinese Consulate in Houston that on Wednesday the US government ordered to close was being investigated by the FBI over allegations of spying, NBC News reported, citing multiple sources. 

US officials told NBC News that the consulate has a history of being used to steal valuable medical research as well as attempts to get into the natural gas and oil industries, and said that President Donald Trump was briefed on the suspected spying soon after he took office.

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See Also:

• People are burning documents at the Chinese Consulate in Houston, as Beijing says the US abruptly gave it 72 hours to shut it down
• The UK has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong 'indefinitely' in a new clash with China
• A Chinese ambassador was confronted on live television with leaked footage appearing to show blindfolded Uighur Muslims being led onto a train in China

SEE ALSO: People are burning documents at the Chinese Consulate in Houston, as Beijing says the US abruptly gave it 72 hours to shut it down

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