Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the United States of a 'reckless provocation' of confrontation after both sides ordered the closure of each other's consulates, AFP reported.

Wang Yi warned in a call with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian that China-US relations could "fall into the abyss of confrontation", according to a transcript published by the Chinese foreign ministry.

He also called on the international community to oppose "any unilateral or hegemonic act", it said.

"The US reckless provocation of confrontation and division is so out of touch with the reality that the interests of China and the United States are deeply integrated," Wang said.
But the two sides should "engage in rational communication" and "never allow a few anti-China elements to overturn decades of successful exchanges and cooperation", he added.