American flag lowered at US consulate on Chengdu: China state media
The American flag was lowered at america consulate in Chengdu on Monday, days after Beijing ordered it to close in retaliation for the shuttering of the Chinese consulate in Houston.
Footage on talk about broadcaster CCTV from outside the consulate showed the flag being slowly reduced early Monday morning, after diplomatic tensions soared between your two powers with both alleging the additional had endangered national protection.
Relations deteriorated in recent weeks in a Freezing War-design standoff, with the Chengdu mission Friday ordered to shut found in retaliation for the forced closure of Beijing’s consulate in Houston, Texas.
The deadline for the Americans to exit Chengdu has been unclear, however the Chinese consulate in Houston was presented with 72 hours to close following the original order was built.
On Saturday AFP reporters saw personnel removing the united states insignia from leading of the consulate.
Over the weekend, removals trucks entered the united states consulate and cleaners were seen carting large black rubbish bags from the building.
Beijing says closing the Chengdu consulate was first a “legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable methods by america”, and has alleged that personnel at the diplomatic mission endangered China’s protection and interests.
Washington officials, meanwhile, said there have been unacceptable work by the Chinese consulate in Houston to steal US corporate secretes.
