On 21 July, the US made the unilateral provocation by making an outrageous demand that China close its Consulate-General in Houston. By so doing, the US has grossly violated international law, the basic norms of international relations, and relevant provisions of the China-US Consular Convention, and gravely damaged China-US relations. China has made legitimate and necessary response.
2020年7月21日，美方單方面挑起事端，突然要求中方關(guān)閉駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館，嚴(yán)重違反有關(guān)國(guó)際法和國(guó)際關(guān)系基本準(zhǔn)則以及中美領(lǐng)事條約有關(guān)規(guī)定，嚴(yán)重破壞中美關(guān)系。中方就此做出了正當(dāng)和必要的反應(yīng)。

The US has been fabricating pretexts and spreading lies about its egregious decision. In a matter of just a few days, the US has churned out different versions of the story. Lies, however, will always be lies even if they are repeated a thousand times. The different versions of the story concocted by the US side have no factual base and mix black with white. In sum, the US has failed to present even one single piece of solid evidence. It is important that we list US false allegations vis-à-vis the facts. The purpose is to debunk the falsehoods and let people know the truths.
美方為其錯(cuò)誤決定編造借口、散布謊言，在短短幾日之內(nèi)就拋出多個(gè)說(shuō)法不一的版本。但是謊言重復(fù)一千遍仍然是謊言。美方所炮制的種種說(shuō)辭，有的是無(wú)中生有，有的是顛倒黑白，拿不出一條真憑實(shí)據(jù)。對(duì)此，有必要把美方謬論和實(shí)際情況列舉出來(lái)，以正本清源，還事實(shí)和真相一個(gè)清白。

1. False: China has stolen intellectual property from the US, including the COVID-19 vaccine research achievements. Closing the Chinese Consulate-General is "to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information".
謊言1：中國(guó)竊取美國(guó)知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)，包括新冠肺炎疫苗研發(fā)成果。閉館是為了保護(hù)美知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)和美公民私人信息。

True: The US side is talking sheer nonsense. It has failed to back its allegation with even one single piece of solid evidence. The reality is, China is a big country in terms of innovation and intellectual property. It has become a main source driving intellectual property growth in the world. On COVID-19 vaccine research and development, China has been at the forefront and has no need to steal from the US .
事實(shí)：美方信口開(kāi)河，從未拿出一條確鑿證據(jù)證實(shí)其說(shuō)法。事實(shí)上，中國(guó)是全球創(chuàng)新大國(guó)和知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)大國(guó)，已成為世界知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)發(fā)展的主要推動(dòng)力。在新冠肺炎疫苗研發(fā)方面，中國(guó)處于領(lǐng)先地位，毫無(wú)理由竊取美方相關(guān)知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)。

◆ China is a big country in terms of innovation and intellectual property. It has kept strengthening the protection of scientific innovation and intellectual property rights. China is now among the world's leading players in terms of scale and growth rate of innovation input. Its R&D expenditure had grown from RMB 300.31 billion yuan in 2006 to RMB 1.96779 trillion yuan in 2018, an average annual increase of 17% and rising from the sixth to the second in the world. China has the world's biggest number of researchers. China's IP offices have received the highest number of patent applications for nine years in a row. China also registered rapid increase in international patent applications and has risen to the world's second biggest filer via WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) System. As pointed out in the WIPO annual report, China has become a main driving force for the overall growth in the global demand for intellectual property rights.
◆中國(guó)是全球創(chuàng)新大國(guó)和知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)大國(guó)，一直在不斷加大科技創(chuàng)新和知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)保護(hù)力度。中國(guó)創(chuàng)新投入的規(guī)模和增速進(jìn)入世界領(lǐng)先行列，研發(fā)經(jīng)費(fèi)支出從2006年的3003.1億元增長(zhǎng)到2018年的19677.9億元，年均增長(zhǎng)17%，世界排名從第6位上升至第2位。研發(fā)人員數(shù)量穩(wěn)居世界第一位。中國(guó)受理的發(fā)明專利申請(qǐng)量連續(xù)9年位居世界第一。近年來(lái)，中國(guó)的《專利合作條約》國(guó)際專利申請(qǐng)量發(fā)展也很快，已經(jīng)躍居全球第二位。世界知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)組織發(fā)布的年度報(bào)告指出，中國(guó)已成為世界知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)發(fā)展的主要推動(dòng)力。

◆ China is one of the global leaders in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines. At the moment, Chinese scientists are working on multiple vaccine projects along five technical routes. Vaccines with China's independent intellectual property have entered clinical trials. The Beijing Institute of Biological Products under the China National Biotec Group, a subsidiary of the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), has set up the world's largest production plant for COVID-19 vaccines. China's National Medical Products Administration and other competent authorities are working to facilitate the deployment of vaccines. China is also working with relevant countries on vaccine research and development, production and distribution.The US accuses China of stealing its research outcomes. Such accusations are a total disrespect to the hard work of Chinese scientists and malicious slanders against China's COVID-19 response. They have seriously undermined international cooperation on vaccine research and disrupted the global response against the disease.
◆中國(guó)在新冠肺炎疫苗研發(fā)方面處于領(lǐng)先地位。目前，中國(guó)科研攻關(guān)組按照5條技術(shù)路線布局多項(xiàng)疫苗研發(fā)任務(wù)。中國(guó)擁有自主知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)的疫苗已經(jīng)成功進(jìn)入臨床試驗(yàn)。中國(guó)國(guó)藥集團(tuán)中國(guó)生物北京生物制品研究所已經(jīng)率先建成了全球最大的新冠肺炎疫苗生產(chǎn)車間。中國(guó)國(guó)家藥監(jiān)局等主管部門也正在全力推動(dòng)新冠肺炎疫苗研發(fā)上市。中國(guó)正在同有關(guān)國(guó)家積極加強(qiáng)疫苗研發(fā)、生產(chǎn)和分發(fā)方面的合作。美國(guó)誣稱中國(guó)竊取其疫苗研發(fā)成果，不僅是對(duì)中國(guó)科學(xué)家辛勤付出的極不尊重和對(duì)中國(guó)抗疫成果的惡意抹黑，也嚴(yán)重?fù)p害全球疫苗研發(fā)合作，破壞國(guó)際抗疫合作。

◆ The Houston Chronicle, Cable News Network (CNN), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) all called the reason "to protect American intellectual property", as cited by the US State Department in its order to close the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston, suspicious.The real aim of the US decision was to deflect people's attention from the US administration's poor handling of COVID-19. Closing the Chinese Consulate-General prior to the election was a measure by Trump to "play tough on China", hold up his declining approval rating, and turn China into a convenient target to vilify and shore up votes. New moves acting on the absurd logic that "China is ripping off America" pop up almost every single day in the US.In the midst of a presidential re-election campaign and with the US economy battered by the disease, Trump is convinced that playing the "China card" gives him political advantages. The actions taken by the US side, which are largely driven by internal politics, would only make China-US relations even more strained.
◆《休斯敦紀(jì)事報(bào)》、美國(guó)有線電視新聞網(wǎng)、美國(guó)哥倫比亞廣播公司、英國(guó)廣播公司等報(bào)道認(rèn)為，美國(guó)務(wù)院聲稱要求關(guān)閉中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館是針對(duì)所謂“中國(guó)竊取知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)的行為”的理由令人生疑。此舉目的是轉(zhuǎn)移人們對(duì)美政府抗疫不力的關(guān)注。美關(guān)閉中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館是特朗普在選舉前對(duì)中國(guó)采取的強(qiáng)硬措施，以支撐其不斷下降的支持率，中國(guó)成為其最易攻擊和用來(lái)拉抬選情的目標(biāo)。美國(guó)幾乎每天都有針對(duì)所謂“中國(guó)剝削美國(guó)”荒謬論調(diào)的新行動(dòng)。在美國(guó)大選季來(lái)臨、美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)受到疫情嚴(yán)重打擊之際，特朗普認(rèn)為“打‘中國(guó)牌’具有政治優(yōu)勢(shì)”，這在一定程度上是由美方從國(guó)內(nèi)考量的角度推動(dòng)的，只會(huì)使中美之間的緊張關(guān)系更加惡化。

2. False: China is using its talent recruitment programs to steal scientific research and intellectual property from research institutions such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center and from energy and high-tech companies in the Houston area.
謊言2：中方在美國(guó)通過(guò)人才招募計(jì)劃，在得克薩斯大學(xué)安德森癌癥研究中心這樣的科研機(jī)構(gòu)和休斯敦地區(qū)能源和高科技公司盜取美科研成果和知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)。

True: These are trumped-up charges made by the US under the presumption of guilt against the normal scientific and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. China's efforts in attracting talent from abroad are no different in essence from customary practices of other countries. These efforts are above-board and beyond reproach.
事實(shí)：美方對(duì)中美正常的科學(xué)、人文交流合作搞有罪推定，羅織“莫須有”罪名。中國(guó)的人才引進(jìn)工作與國(guó)際通行做法無(wú)本質(zhì)區(qū)別，光明正大，無(wú)可指摘。

◆ The cross-border movement of talent in the era of globalization has facilitated technological and economic advances worldwide. Countries are all actively carrying out international exchanges and cooperation on talent. What China is doing in this respect is in essence not different from other countries' practices.
◆全球化時(shí)代，人才跨國(guó)流動(dòng)，推動(dòng)了全球范圍內(nèi)技術(shù)和經(jīng)濟(jì)的進(jìn)步。世界各國(guó)都在積極開(kāi)展國(guó)際人才交流合作。中國(guó)人才引進(jìn)工作與世界其他國(guó)家的通行做法并無(wú)本質(zhì)區(qū)別。

◆ Closer exchanges and cooperation between China and the US on science and technology serves the interests of both sides. According to the Global AI Talent Tracker released in mid-June by MacroPolo, the in-house think tank of the Paulson Institute, 29% of top-tier AI researchers working in the US received undergraduate degrees in China. Thus, the US global lead on AI has much to do with the talent supply from China.
◆中美加強(qiáng)科技等領(lǐng)域交流與合作，符合雙方共同利益，包括美方利益。美國(guó)保爾森基金會(huì)旗下“馬可·波羅”智庫(kù)6月中旬發(fā)布的《全球人工智能人才追蹤》報(bào)告顯示，中國(guó)的大學(xué)為美研究機(jī)構(gòu)培養(yǎng)了近三分之一的相關(guān)人才。美在人工智能領(lǐng)域取得全球領(lǐng)先地位與中國(guó)的人才供給密不可分。

◆ What the US government is doing conflicts with its self-claimed ideals of openness and freedom as well as the commitments publicly made by its leaders. It runs counter to the global trend of talent exchanges worldwide, and has brought grave negative impact on the normal people-to-people exchange and personnel inter-flow between the two countries.
◆美國(guó)政府所作所為，與其自我標(biāo)榜的開(kāi)放自由等理念和美領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人公開(kāi)作出的承諾背道而馳，與開(kāi)展國(guó)際人才交流的時(shí)代潮流背道而馳，給中美正常人文交流與人員往來(lái)帶來(lái)嚴(yán)重消極影響。

3. False: The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston has a history of engaging in "subversive behavior". It is the central node of the Communist Party's vast network of spies and influence operations, and the epicenter of efforts by the Chinese military to send students to the US to obtain information that could advance its warfare capabilities. It has engaged for years in massive illegal spying and influence operations.
謊言3：中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館從事顛覆性行為，是中共在美龐大間諜和影響力活動(dòng)網(wǎng)的核心節(jié)點(diǎn)，也是中國(guó)軍方通過(guò)向美派遣留學(xué)生來(lái)提升戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì)的中心，一直進(jìn)行大規(guī)模“非法”間諜和意識(shí)形態(tài)宣傳行動(dòng)。

True: Since its opening, the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston has always observed international law and US laws, and stayed committed to promoting friendship between the two countries. There are no spying activities or influence operations as claimed by the US. By fabricating such claims, the US is simply "measuring others' corn with its own bushel".
事實(shí)：中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館開(kāi)設(shè)以來(lái)，一直遵守國(guó)際法和美當(dāng)?shù)胤?，致力于促進(jìn)中美友好，不存在美方臆造的“間諜”活動(dòng)和意識(shí)形態(tài)宣傳。美方說(shuō)法是以己之心度人之腹。

◆ China always pursues the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. Infiltration and interference is never in the genes or tradition of China's foreign policy. Dedicated to advancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in the US abide by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral treaties and US laws.
◆中方一貫堅(jiān)持不干涉別國(guó)內(nèi)政原則，滲透、干涉別國(guó)內(nèi)政從來(lái)不是中國(guó)外交的基因和傳統(tǒng)。中國(guó)駐美外交機(jī)構(gòu)始終致力于促進(jìn)中美兩國(guó)人民互相了解和友誼，遵守《維也納外交關(guān)系公約》、《維也納領(lǐng)事關(guān)系公約》、中美雙邊條約及當(dāng)?shù)胤伞?/p>

◆ The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston was the first consular mission opened in the US following the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties. In the past four decades and more, it worked hard to promote friendship and cooperation between the two peoples, and enhance mutual understanding and all-round cooperation between the two countries in various sectors. While COVID-19 raged on in the southern states of the US, the Consulate-General donated masks to Houston and Harris County, actively facilitated anti-virus cooperation between China and the southern states, and assisted Shanghai, Shandong and Shenzhen of China in donating medical supplies to Houston.
◆中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館是中美建交之后中方在美國(guó)開(kāi)設(shè)的第一個(gè)總領(lǐng)館。40多年來(lái)，該館堅(jiān)持致力于促進(jìn)兩國(guó)人民的友誼與合作，致力于促進(jìn)中美各界的相互了解和各領(lǐng)域合作。針對(duì)美南地區(qū)疫情持續(xù)蔓延，中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館分別向休斯敦市和哈里斯郡捐贈(zèng)口罩，并積極搭建中方同美南地區(qū)開(kāi)展抗疫合作的橋梁，協(xié)助上海市、山東省、深圳市分別向休斯敦捐助了防疫物資。

◆ The composition and number of the staff at the Consulate-General in Houston was open information to the US side. It runs counter to the common sense in diplomacy to accuse the Consulate-General of being the central node of the Communist Party's vast network of spies and influence operations, and the epicenter of efforts by the Chinese military to send students to the US to obtain information that could advance its warfare capabilities. Such a claim is also very preposterous.
◆中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館的人員構(gòu)成和數(shù)量對(duì)美方是公開(kāi)的。把該館說(shuō)成是中國(guó)在美間諜和影響力活動(dòng)網(wǎng)的核心節(jié)點(diǎn)以及中國(guó)軍方通過(guò)向美派遣留學(xué)生來(lái)提升戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì)的中心，有違外交常識(shí)，十分荒謬。

◆ Some staff of the US Embassy and consulates-general in China have been engaged in activities incompatible with their capacities, interfering in the internal affairs and undermining the security interests of China. The US Embassy often publishes on its website articles attacking China and China's political system. It is reported that the staff of the US Consulate-General in Hong Kong met covertly with "Hong Kong independence" elements during the turbulence surrounding the proposed legislative amendments in Hong Kong to discuss US sanctions on Hong Kong, interfering in Hong Kong's affairs. China has lodged representations on multiple occasions.
◆美國(guó)駐華使領(lǐng)館一些人員從事與其身份不符活動(dòng)，干涉中國(guó)內(nèi)政，損害中國(guó)安全利益。美駐華使館經(jīng)常在其官網(wǎng)公然刊登攻擊中國(guó)和中國(guó)政治制度的文章。據(jù)媒體報(bào)道，美駐香港總領(lǐng)館在“修例風(fēng)波”期間同“港獨(dú)”分子密會(huì)，討論美企圖制裁香港等事宜，插手香港事務(wù)。中方多次就此提出交涉。

◆ In July 2018 and January 2020, the US side opened Chinese diplomatic bags twice without permission. This was a flagrant breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. It also grossly violated China's diplomatic dignity and security interests.Hence China's diplomatic and consular missions lodged strong representations at the first opportunity. The US side did not deny what had actually happened, but kept exonerating its wrongful behavior with technical excuses in an attempt to shirk responsibility. The US behavior and response ran counter to international law and the norms of international relations, and therefore must be condemned. In addition to opening diplomatic pouches, the US side has since 2018 forcibly unpacked the office supplies of Chinese missions on at least 13 occasions.
◆2018年7月、2020年1月，美方兩次擅自開(kāi)拆中方外交郵袋，這一舉動(dòng)公然違反《維也納外交關(guān)系公約》《維也納領(lǐng)事關(guān)系公約》，嚴(yán)重侵犯中方外交尊嚴(yán)和安全利益。事件發(fā)生后，中國(guó)駐美外交機(jī)構(gòu)第一時(shí)間向美方嚴(yán)正交涉，美方并未否認(rèn)相關(guān)事實(shí)，但一再以技術(shù)理由為其錯(cuò)誤行徑進(jìn)行開(kāi)脫，推卸自身責(zé)任。美方上述行徑與國(guó)際法和國(guó)際關(guān)系準(zhǔn)則背道而馳，應(yīng)該受到譴責(zé)。除外交郵袋外，自2018年以來(lái)，美方擅自開(kāi)拆中方公務(wù)物品至少13次。

◆ The New York Times questions the assertion that "the Houston Consulate-General had a history of engaging in 'subversive behavior' and was the 'epicenter' of research theft in the US", and it believes that there is no evidence to support this allegation.
◆《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》質(zhì)疑有關(guān)中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館有從事“顛覆活動(dòng)”的歷史、是中國(guó)盜取美國(guó)科研成果的“中心”的說(shuō)法，認(rèn)為沒(méi)有任何證據(jù)。

◆ An editorial of Houston Chronicle reads that China is the Houston region's second-largest trading partner and it has benefited from having the Consulate-General in the city. For more than 40 years, the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston has served as a symbolic bridge, facilitating travel, trade and cultural ties between Houston and China. For decades, China has been an important trading partner of Texas in key sectors such as energy, oil, chemicals, science and technology, which will bear the brunt of the US move. The closure will also have a direct impact on passport and visa application in the regions covered by the Consulate-General, and will put a heavy damper on the desire of Chinese citizens to study, travel and work in the US. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was shocked by the US decision. He expressed his hope that friction between the US and China, whatever it may be, can be resolved peacefully and that at some point in time the Consulate-General will reopen.
◆《休斯敦紀(jì)事報(bào)》社論稱，中國(guó)是休斯敦地區(qū)第二大貿(mào)易伙伴，該地區(qū)從中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館受益良多。40多年來(lái)，休斯敦總領(lǐng)館已成為休斯敦地區(qū)同中國(guó)旅游、貿(mào)易和文化交流的橋梁。數(shù)十年來(lái)，中國(guó)一直是得克薩斯州能源、化工、科技等關(guān)鍵產(chǎn)業(yè)的重要貿(mào)易伙伴。美方此舉將危及得州工業(yè)發(fā)展。關(guān)閉總領(lǐng)館將直接影響領(lǐng)區(qū)內(nèi)人員申辦護(hù)照或簽證，并將大大降低中國(guó)公民將來(lái)赴美學(xué)習(xí)、旅行和工作的熱情。休斯敦市市長(zhǎng)西爾維斯特·特納對(duì)美方關(guān)閉中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館感到震驚，希望美中和平解決分歧，重啟中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館。

◆ According to US Congressman Al Green, communities of Asian Americans in Houston have already been discriminated against because of President Trump's comments against China and their work and the safety of their families are under threat. The closure of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston will make the situation worse. He called for not treating all Asian Americans as spies and fully evaluating the potential damage these words and actions may do to the American people and thinking more for their sake.
◆美國(guó)聯(lián)邦眾議員阿爾·格林表示，休斯敦地區(qū)有大量亞裔美國(guó)人，他們已經(jīng)因?yàn)樘乩势盏姆慈A言論受到歧視，工作和家人安全面臨威脅，關(guān)閉中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館將使這種情況更加糟糕。格林呼吁不要將所有亞裔都當(dāng)作間諜，要充分評(píng)估相關(guān)言行可能給美國(guó)人民帶來(lái)的傷害，多為美國(guó)人民著想。

4. False: Chinese Consul-General in Houston and two other diplomats were recently caught using false birth information at the security check of an airport in Houston to escort Chinese travelers to the gate area of a charter flight.
謊言4：中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)事和另外兩名外交人士最近被發(fā)現(xiàn)在休斯敦機(jī)場(chǎng)安檢區(qū)使用虛假生日信息護(hù)送中國(guó)旅客到包機(jī)登機(jī)口。

True: The US allegation could not be further from facts. The staff of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston have always followed international law and American local laws when performing their duties in the US.
事實(shí)：美方說(shuō)法完全不符合事實(shí)。中國(guó)駐休斯敦總領(lǐng)館人員在美履職一貫遵守國(guó)際法和當(dāng)?shù)胤伞?/strong>