American diplomatic staff have left their consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu, after a 72-hour deadline expired.
China ordered the closure in response to the US closing the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas, last week. Before Monday’s deadline, staff were seen leaving the building, a plaque was removed, and a US flag was lowered.
China’s foreign ministry said Chinese staff entered the building after the deadline and “took over”. As the US consulate closed, crowds of local residents gathered outside, with many waving Chinese flags and taking selfies.
Beijing ordered the closure in response to the US closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston – over claims that it was used as a hub for spying. Tensions have been escalating between the two countries over a number of issues: US President Donald Trump’s administration has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade and the coronavirus pandemic [and] Washington has also condemned the imposition by China of a controversial new security law in Hong Kong.
Last week, a Singaporean man pleaded guilty in a US court to working as an agent of China [and] also last week, four Chinese nations were charged in a separate case with US visa fraud for allegedly lying about serving in China’s military.
Chinese state media showed pictures of lorries leaving the US consulate, and workers removing diplomatic insignia from the building. On Monday morning, state broadcaster CCTV posted a video online of the US flag being taken down. Dozens of Chinese police were deployed outside the building, urging onlookers to move on. However, boos were heard when a bus with tinted windows left the building on Sunday, the AFP news agency reports. When Chinese diplomats left their mission in Houston last week they were jeered by protesters. ❑
