American diplomatic staff vacate consulate in China

…The American and Chinese diplomatic relations worsen

The American ambassadorial staff on Monday left their Chinese consulate located in Chengdu after the 72-hour deadline issued by China elapsed.

Beijing had commanded the United States Consulate to be closed as a retribution to the same decision the White House took while it closed Chinese Consulate in Houston few days back.

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The occurrence is another evidence of the worsening diplomatic crisis between the super nations – the United States and China, as the American flag was lowered when the diplomatic staff left the consulate.

“The closure was a legitimate and necessary response to the actions taken by the US. Staff at the consulate were engaged in activities outside of their capacity, interfered in China’s internal affairs, and endangered China’s security and interests,” a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry has said.

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While reacting to the incident, a US State Department spokesperson condemned the China’s action saying, “The consulate has stood at the center of our relations with the people in Western China, including Tibet, for 35 years. We are disappointed by the Chinese Communist Party’s decision and will strive to continue our outreach to the people in this important region through our other posts in China.”

Both countries have been waning in diplomatic relations involving allegations and counter-allegations as the United States accused China for the origin and spread of coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine research hacking and spying on America’s military and commercial secrets, the allegations China has denied a number of times.