BEIJING, July 24: China ordered the United States on Friday to close its consulate in the western city of Chengdu, ratcheting up a diplomatic conflict at a time when relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades.

WASHINGTON, July 24: A U.S. demand that China shut its Houston consulate is the latest chapter in a dramatic worsening of ties between the world’s two biggest economies over the last two years.

BEIJING, July 23: China said “malicious slander” is behind an order by the U.S. government to close its consulate in Houston, Texas, and maintained Thursday that its officials have never operated outside ordinary diplomatic norms.

LONDON, July 22: The abrupt closure of China’s consulate in Houston marks the latest incident in a rapidly escalating conflict between China and the United States.