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The American flag was lowered at the United States consulate in Chengdu on Monday, days after Beijing ordered it to shut in retaliation for the shuttering of the Chinese consulate in Houston.
Footage on state broadcaster CCTV from outdoors the consulate confirmed the flag being slowly lowered early Monday morning, after diplomatic tensions soared between the 2 powers with each alleging the opposite had endangered nationwide safety.
Relations deteriorated in latest weeks in a Cold War-style standoff, with the Chengdu mission Friday ordered to close in retaliation for the pressured 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 given 72 hours to shut after the unique order was made.
On Saturday AFP reporters noticed employees eradicating the US insignia from the entrance of the consulate.
Over the weekend, removals vans entered the US consulate and cleaners had been seen carting massive black garbage luggage from the constructing.
Beijing says closing the Chengdu consulate was a “legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable measures by the United States”, and has alleged that workers at the diplomatic mission endangered China’s safety and pursuits.
Washington officers, in the meantime, stated there had been unacceptable efforts by the Chinese consulate in Houston to steal US company secrets and techniques.
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