China Officially Takes Over US Consulate in Chengdu As Diplomatic Staff Lower American Flag

By Staff, Agencies

The American flag was pulled down as staff left the US Consulate General in Chengdu, after Beijing ordered Washington to close its diplomatic office, in a tit-for-tat response for the closure of Houston facility.

“At 10:00am on July 27th, according to the Chinese side's request, the US Consulate General in Chengdu was closed,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. 

After American staff left the premises, Chinese authorities “entered through the front entrance and took it over,” the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Chinese media outlets shared videos of a US flag being lowered around 6:18am local time, as the deadline approached.

Other footage showed US personnel leaving the consulate under high security.

Beijing considers the closure a “legitimate and necessary response” to Washington’s “unreasonable actions” in regard to its diplomatic facility in Houston, Texas.