The Chinese consulate in San Francisco has been damaged after its main gate was set on fire on Wednesday night.
The consulate said someone parked a van in front of the mission then poured two cans of petrol on the main gate and set it ablaze.
The consulate condemned the "vicious, destructive act of arson" and urged police to solve the crime quickly.
While protests outside Chinese consulates are common in Western countries, acts of violence are rare.
No-one was injured by the fire, but Chinese officials said the building was "severely damaged" and the safety of personnel had been threatened.
The fire is being investigated as arson, according to a local broadcaster.
The safety of Chinese diplomatic personnel and missions has been a sensitive issue since the US military accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during air strikes against Serbia in 1999.
The bombing set off a series of protests - many Chinese still believe it was intentional.
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Do any of you here believe the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by the US was intentional? If so, why do you think that it was?