중국, 청두 미국 총영사관 폐쇄,...중국 "담당 부문 진입 예정"
The U.S. consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu officially closed on this Monday morning amid worsening relations between Beijing and Washington.
The American flag over the building was lowered at dawn and onlookers were moved back by police surrounding the consulate as it prepared to shut.
Lee Kyung-eun has the latest.
The U.S. consulate in Chengdu officially shut its doors on Monday.
Beijing had ordered the closure on Friday,...after Washington instructed China's consulate in Houston, Texas, to cease all operations, accusing China of espionage.
Beijing set the deadline at 10 AM, giving the US embassy the same 72-hour time frame,... that the Chinese embassy had been given in Houston last week.
As the deadline expired, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the closure on social media platform Weibo at around 11 AM...saying "relevant Chinese authorities then entered from the main entrance and took over."
AP reported that the U.S. State Department confirmed the closure.
Ahead of the deadline, the American flag was lowered early on Monday morning.
And over the weekend,...the U.S. insignia was taken down and cargo trucks were loaded with shipping containers.
Local residents gathered at the site, showing mixed responses.
"I approve. The U.S. closed our consulate; I think we should shut theirs too."
"China and the U.S. should handle their relations through negotiations and international forums, so there won't be more conflicts."
The Chengdu mission holds great significance to the U.S. as it covers diplomatically sensitive areas like Xinjiang and Tibet.
It is seen as a tit-for-tat move against the Houston closure,... as that also has symbolic meaning, being the first Chinese consulate built in the U.S. after two countries normalized their relations in 1979.
Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News.
