Chinese Authorities Force Closure Of U.S. Consulate

Clay Robinson | July 27, 2020
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In the latest development of deteriorating relations between China and the United States, Beijing has forced the closure of a U.S. consulate in Chengdu. 

 

 

Chinese authorities lowered the American flag over the consulate Monday after the U.S. government closed a Chinese mission in Houston three days prior. The decision was announced Friday as U.S. diplomats were expelled from the consulate and police blocked off the facility.

According to Bloomberg, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the closure was a “legitimate and necessary response to what the U.S. did”. The closure of both consulates signals a casualty between the U.S. and China since 1979, after 35 years since establishing the facility.

In video footage from Bloomberg, onlookers in Chengdu can be seen watching the American diplomats leave the consulate.

“A huge crowd has gathered to see the Americans depart.”

Here’s the scene outside the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, China as bystanders witness its closure, @sharonchenhm reports. More @business: https://t.co/oIoQ0wQvCQ #成都 #领事馆 pic.twitter.com/WkNynqHAtm

— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) July 27, 2020

This comes after the Chinese government imposed new national security laws in Hong Kong that drastically increases restrictions on free speech and tightens the government’s authority over Hong Kong. 

In addition, the Trump administration has toughened its stance on China after the coronavirus outbreak by considering a ban on a Chinese-based app that poses a national security threat and blaming China for a weak response to the coronavirus, resulting in worldwide transmission.

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