"If the China-US relationship is a vehicle, the US is taking it onto a wrong path, and worse still, it is hitting the accelerator", the Chinese Embassy said in the statement on Wednesday night. "It's time to step on the brakes and return to the right direction".
On Tuesday, the US State Department ordered Beijing to close down its consulate in Houston, Texas, in 72 hours over accusations that it has engaged for years in massive illegal spying and influence operations in the United States.
China has denied the accusations and criticized the United States for various violations of international law. China has also said that the United States has been inciting hatred toward Chinese nationals, resulting in multiple threats made to the embassy in Washington.
The Chinese Embassy said in an earlier statement that it strongly condemned the closure of China's consulate in Houston and warned that Beijing would respond to what it considers to be a "political provocation".