Opened in 1985, the american consulate in Chengdu has become the latest subject of a long list of disputes between Beijing and Washington.
chinese officials have entered this Monday in the grounds of the Us consulate in Chengdu shortly after the departure of the last employees of Washington, putting an end to an episode of sanctions mutual worthy of the cold War.
Very symbolically, the star-spangled banner of the United States had been lowered a little earlier inside the complex diplomatic, according to images of the chinese television. In contrast to the previous days, foreign journalists have not been allowed by police to approach the diplomatic representation.
passers-by in front of the entrance of the us consulate in Chengdu, July 23, 2020
afp.com/STR
In a brief statement, the chinese ministry of foreign Affairs has confirmed the closure of the consulate and reported that China had “taken possession” of the building at 10 a.m. local. A little earlier, employees are left to foot the pregnant diplomatic. Some wore a bag on the back while others were pushing their bike to the hand. The day before, a bus with tinted windows, had left the enclosure, diplomatic, under the boos of a part of the public.
A bus leaves the compound of the u.s. consulate in Chengdu. (Photo by Noel Celis / AFP)
Noel Celis / AFP
summer Offer : Take advantage of the special offer 2 months for€ 1 I would like to subscribe
Latest hot topic
Opened in 1985, the american consulate in Chengdu is now Friday, the last about a long list of disputes between Beijing and Washington, when China has ordered the closure of the mission. This decision has been the response of the communist regime to the forced closure of its consulate in Houston in the United States by the administration Trump, on a background of accusations of espionage worthy of the cold War.
Beijing had protested after the entry by force on Friday of american agents after the departure of the chinese officials. This building is a “national property of China”, was stressed by the chinese ministry of foreign Affairs, referring to the international law.
The chinese authorities have regained possession of the american consulate in Chengdu. (Photo by Noel Celis / AFP)
Noel Celis / AFP
ALSO READ >> Between the United States and China, “the war of the consulates” in three acts
The us secretary of State Mike Pompeo has assured Thursday that the consulate of China in Houston, the fourth city of the United States, was a “hub of espionage and theft of intellectual property”. “Some employees of the Us consulate in Chengdu were engaged in activities out of their assignments, they interfered in the internal affairs of China, and have put in danger the security and interests of china”, has accused his side of china’s public diplomacy.
These reprisals mutual taking place in a context of degradation of sino-american relations, the apples of discord are being multiplied in recent months: repression in Hong Kong with the entry into force of a controversial law on security, pandemic Covid-19, and tensions in the south China sea in particular.
The palpable tension
On the eve of its closure, the consulate in Chengdu was Sunday and an attraction for the inhabitants of the metropolis of the south-west of China. Under a blue sky and a sweltering heat, a constant stream of the curious came to be photographed in front of the building. Some were waving a chinese flag, found journalists from AFP.
READ ALSO >> Tensions between China and the United Kingdom about the fate of the Uighurs
A certain tension was palpable within the security forces, which have low tolerance for any gestures or confrontational, or sign of joy too manifest in the face of the departure of the Americans. A young man who was screaming “I am Chinese! Go China!” has been removed from the premises by two police officers. Journalists from the AFP have also seen a banner confiscated by security. But one resident, however, able to deploy on her balcony a large chinese flag and shouting the name of his country. Some foreign reporters have been names of birds.
A certain tension was palpable within the security forces this morning (Monday) when taking possession of the consulate. Noel Celis/AFP
Noel Celis
in Addition to its embassy in Beijing, the United States there are now four consulates in mainland China (Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan), as well as in Hong Kong, an autonomous territory shaken last year by demonstrations against the central power.
Beijing had seen the hand of Washington behind these disorders. The nationalist chinese claimed last week the closure of the Us consulate in Hong Kong.
