<p>On July 21, several fire trucks were rushed to the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas after nearby residents reported smoke coming from the consulate building.</p>

<p>Within minutes, some Chinese diplomats were seen dumping papers in barrels set on fire which sparked controversies.</p>

<p>After these reports, the US government clarified&nbsp;that it has ordered China to shut the Houston consulate in 72 hours.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-orders-us-chengdu-consulate-shut-american-flag-lowered-at-consulate-us-china-316179"><strong>Also watch:&nbsp;China orders U.S Chengdu consulate shut | American flag lowered at consulate | US-China</strong></a></p>

<p>The US President claimed that the shutting down of the Chinese consulate was because of security reasons and he also hinted at more of such closures coming up.</p>

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<p>The Houston consulate was completely vacated within 72 hours i.e. on July 24.</p>

<p>After the US ordered closure of the Chinese consulate, China too ordered the US to shut down its consulate in Chengdu, China.&nbsp;American officials were asked to leave the facility and return home within 72 hours.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/american-flag-lowered-at-us-consulate-in-chengdu-316182"><strong>Also watch:&nbsp;American flag lowered at US consulate in Chengdu</strong></a></p>

<p>The deadline ended today (July 27) and the consulate was completely emptied out as the consulate staff was spotted leaving in huge buses. quickly after that, the Chinese officials surrounded the facility and the American flag outside the consulate building was also lowered. After this, all access to the consulate building was restricted.</p>

<p>The Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing has declared that it has officially taken over the premises.</p>

<p>Quickly after the consulate was emptied out, Chengdu became a venue of celebration. Crowds gathered and chanted of nationalism.</p>

<p>While US and China have been at a verbal war for months now, the events in the past week are hinting towards the&nbsp;possibility of a more dangerous phase of the US-China conflict.</p>


On July 21, several fire trucks were rushed to the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas after nearby residents reported smoke coming from the consulate building. Within minutes, some Chinese diplomats were seen dumping papers in barrels set on fire which sparked controversies.

On July 21, several fire trucks were rushed to the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas after nearby residents reported smoke coming from the consulate building. Within minutes, some Chinese diplomats were seen dumping papers in barrels set on fire which sparked controversies. After these reports, the US government clarified that it has ordered China to shut the Houston consulate in 72 hours. Also watch: China orders U.S Chengdu consulate shut | American flag lowered at consulate | US-China The US President claimed that the shutting down of the Chinese consulate was because of security reasons and he also hinted at more of such closures coming up. × The Houston consulate was completely vacated within 72 hours i.e. on July 24. After the US ordered closure of the Chinese consulate, China too ordered the US to shut down its consulate in Chengdu, China. American officials were asked to leave the facility and return home within 72 hours. Also watch: American flag lowered at US consulate in Chengdu The deadline ended today (July 27) and the consulate was completely emptied out as the consulate staff was spotted leaving in huge buses. quickly after that, the Chinese officials surrounded the facility and the American flag outside the consulate building was also lowered. After this, all access to the consulate building was restricted. The Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing has declared that it has officially taken over the premises. Quickly after the consulate was emptied out, Chengdu became a venue of celebration. Crowds gathered and chanted of nationalism. While US and China have been at a verbal war for months now, the events in the past week are hinting towards the possibility of a more dangerous phase of the US-China conflict.

American flag lowered at Chengdu consulate after employees vacate building

Tit for tat: US and China order shut down of each other's consulates over 'political provocation'

<p>After China ordered the closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in a tit-for-tat move as the US closed China's Houston consulate on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry said that "the United States launched a unilateral provocation by abruptly demanding that China close its consulate in Houston".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-orders-us-to-close-its-consulate-in-chengdu-in-response-to-houston-closure-315605">Also Read:&nbsp;China orders US to close its consulate in Chengdu in response to Houston closure</a></p>

<p>China's foreign ministry said the measure taken by it was the "legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the US".</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

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<p>The Chinese foreign ministry said that it "conforms with international law, the basic norms of international relations, and customary diplomatic practices."</p>

<p>"The current situation in China-US relations is not what China desires," it said, adding the US is responsible for it.</p>

<p>The US had ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston after what it called to "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information" amid reports of papers being burned inside the Chinese consulate compound, as the fire reportedly started US firefighter arrived on the scene but were prevented from entering the building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese officials were ordered to vacate the consulate within 72 hours.</p>

<p>"We once again urge the US to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track," China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.</p>

<p>The Chinese spokesman said that some "people of the US consulate in Chengdu have engaged in activities that are incompatible with their status, interfering in China's internal affairs" while asserting that "China has repeatedly lodged representations, and the US side is well aware of it."</p>

<p>"The Chinese side has made specific requirements on the ceasing of all operations and activities by the US Consulate General in Chengdu, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy," Wang Wenbin said.</p>


After China ordered the closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in a tit-for-tat move as the US closed China's Houston consulate on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry said that "the United States launched a unilateral provocation by abruptly demanding that China close its consulate in Houston".

After China ordered the closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in a tit-for-tat move as the US closed China's Houston consulate on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry said that "the United States launched a unilateral provocation by abruptly demanding that China close its consulate in Houston". Also Read: China orders US to close its consulate in Chengdu in response to Houston closure China's foreign ministry said the measure taken by it was the "legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the US". Watch: The Chinese foreign ministry said that it "conforms with international law, the basic norms of international relations, and customary diplomatic practices." "The current situation in China-US relations is not what China desires," it said, adding the US is responsible for it. The US had ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston after what it called to "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information" amid reports of papers being burned inside the Chinese consulate compound, as the fire reportedly started US firefighter arrived on the scene but were prevented from entering the building. The Chinese officials were ordered to vacate the consulate within 72 hours. "We once again urge the US to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track," China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. The Chinese spokesman said that some "people of the US consulate in Chengdu have engaged in activities that are incompatible with their status, interfering in China's internal affairs" while asserting that "China has repeatedly lodged representations, and the US side is well aware of it." "The Chinese side has made specific requirements on the ceasing of all operations and activities by the US Consulate General in Chengdu, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy," Wang Wenbin said.

People in US consulate in Chengdu interfered in our internal affairs: China

In a tit-for-tat escalation between the two countries, China has ordered the closure of the US consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu. Watch report.

China asks US to shut consulate | Chengdu | Retaliation to Houston consulate closure