청두 주재 美 총영사관 폐쇄 임박...추가 보복은?
As a retaliatory measure against the Trump administration's order to shut China's consulate general in Houston,... Beijing has ordered the U.S. to close down its consulate general in Chengdu by early Monday.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
The U.S. consulate in China's western city of Chengdu is readying to shut down,... after Beijing reportedly ordered its closure by Monday morning,... providing just 72 hours' notice.
This comes as the Trump administration ordered the closure of China's consulate in Houston, Texas,... accusing China for stealing intellectual property.
Beijing's latest move also ratchets up a diplomatic conflict between the two superpowers at a time when relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades.
The official insignia of the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, established in 1985, was removed from the building over the weekend,... with local residents gathering in front of the diplomatic mission.
They seemed to be split on the decision.
"I approve. The U.S. closed our consulate, I think we should shut theirs too. It has been said many times, if we are to have a trade war, something should have been done long time ago. China rarely got aggressive, I support China closing all of the U.S. embassy and consulates."
"China and the U.S. should handle their relations well through negotiation and international forums, so there won't be more (conflicts). I just hope the U.S. can respect China, and China can show willingness to work with the U.S. and handle their relations well."
Following the tit-for-tat move, it remains to be seen what further steps Washington and Beijing will take.
Pundits raise the possibility of the countries ordering the shutdown of other diplomatic missions,... including the Chinese consulate general in San Francisco and the U.S. consulate general in Hong Kong and Macau.
Some also predict the world's two largest superpowers could take other retaliatory measures, including economic sanctions.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
