In response to the United States lashing out against Chinese “new tyranny” and closing down the Chinese consulate in Houston, the Chinese Government ordered for the closure of the American consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu. This is being seen as a diplomatic retaliation that threatens to widen the divide between the two countries.
Beijing justified its actions by portraying it a tit-for-tat move after Washington’s decision of Chinese consulate closure after several accusations of illegal activities by the Chinese diplomats. It also blamed the Trump government by holding it responsible for the deteriorating relations. A Chinese official even went as far as to denounce the American diplomats posted in Chengdu for their interference in China’s affairs.
The Chinese Communist Party also accused the Trump administration of putting Beijing under constant intense assault on all the fronts, including trade, technology and human rights.
This move came against the backdrop of several strict actions taken by the United States which include sanctioning Chinese officials over the Chinese Communist Party policies in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, cutting off of Chinese tech companies from the American markets and challenging Beijing’s claims over the South China Sea.
An editorial of the official Xinhua News Agency read, “The United States has recently stirred up troubles in relations with China to the point of hysteria.”
It continued to state that “The unprovoked closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston by the United States not only aroused the indignation of the Chinese people but also allowed the international community to see the true face of American bullying.”
