SUMMARY
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday confirmed the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, capital city of the southwestern province of Sichuan, was closed at 10:00 a.m. BJT. Chinese authorities have entered the building and taken over the now-closed consulate.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China's request to close U.S. consulate in Chengdu is a legitimate and necessary response to U.S. closure of China's Houston consulate and forced entry of American officials into the premises.
China informed the U.S. Embassy in China on July 24 of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu after the U.S. abruptly demanded China close its consulate general in Houston on July 21.
Here is what we know so far:
- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the U.S. is entirely to blame for current difficulties in bilateral relations.
- Chinese Consul General of Houston Cai Wei said in an open letter that the friendship between the Chinese and American people will prevail, despite the deliberate escalation of tensions by a few U.S. politicians.
The local U.S. consulate has been closed in Chengdu. Chinese authorities entered through the front gate and took over the premises. The closure was in response to Washington's move to shut down the Chinese consulate in Houston.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, China, July 27, 2020 /VCG
FM spokesperson: China's takeover of U.S. Chengdu consulate conforms with int'l law, basic norms of int'l relations
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China's request to close U.S. consulate in Chengdu is a legitimate and necessary response to U.S. closure of China's Houston consulate and forced entry of American officials into the premises.
The takeover of the premises conforms with international law and basic norms of international relations, noted Wang.
The current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what we desire to see, and the U.S. is responsible for all this, said Wang, once again urging the U.S. side to immediately correct its mistakes and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track.
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At the scene: Chinese authorities take over closed U.S. Chengdu consulate
As required by China, the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu closed at 10 a.m. on Monday. The relevant Chinese authorities then entered through the front entrance and took over the premises.
U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu closed: China's Foreign Ministry
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday confirmed that the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan, closed at 10:00 a.m. BJT.
"At 10: 00 a.m. on July 27th, according to the Chinese side's request, the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu was closed. Afterwards, Chinese authorities entered through the front entrance and took it over," the ministry said in a statement on its official social media account.
Timeline: U.S. vacates Chengdu consulate in 72 hours
China on Friday ordered the U.S. to close its consulate general in Chengdu in 72 hours in retaliation to the U.S. demand for China to shutter its consulate general in Houston.
Here is what happened during the 72 hours as the U.S. vacated the premises.
Staffers spotted leaving U.S. consulate general in Chengdu
A group of staffers at the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu were spotted leaving the consulate general at around 6:00 a.m. before a U.S. national flag was lowered at around 6:18 a.m. on Monday.
China had ordered the U.S. to close its consulate in Chengdu in 72 hours in retaliation to the U.S. demand for China to shutter its consulate in Houston.
The deadline for the U.S. consulate's evacuation was reportedly 10:00 a.m. Monday.
