China Orders U.S. to Shut Chengdu Consulate

China ordered the United States to close its consulate in the city of Chengdu on Friday, in response to the US request to close the Chinese consulate in Houston with the deterioration of relations between the largest economies in the world. The Chengdu Consulate in southwest China’s Sichuan Province is seen as almost reciprocal in size and influence, confirming similar responses from China to US decisions.

China had until Friday (today) to evacuate its consulate in Houston, urged the United States to reconsider and gave 72 hours before it responded.

The U.S. move seriously breached international law, the basic norms of international relations, and the terms of the China-U.S. Consular Convention. It gravely harmed China-U.S. relations, “China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China informed the U.S. Embassy in China of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu,” it said.