The United States gave China 72 hours to close the country's consulate in Houston amid allegations of spying, which marked a sharp deterioration in relations between the world's two largest economies, Reuters reported.

Donald Trump said at a news briefing it was “always possible” other Chinese missions could be closed too. 

“We thought there was a fire in one that we did close,” Trump noted. “I guess they were burning documents, or burning papers, and I wonder what that’s all about.”

The Chinese Embassy in Washington had received “bomb and death threats” because of “smears & hatred” fanned by the US government, spokeswoman Hua Chunying tweeted.

“The U.S. should revoke its erroneous decision,” she said. “China will surely react with firm countermeasures.”