An Eye for an Eye... China Closes Chengdu U.S. Consulate (Comprehensive)

Houston Chinese Consulate and Similar Scale of Personnel
Consulate in Charge of Tibet, Hot Topic Due to Human Rights Issues

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China has demanded the closure of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in response to the U.S. closure of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston.

On the morning of the 24th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had notified the U.S. Embassy to revoke the permit for the establishment and operation of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu and to suspend all its work and activities.

The Chengdu Consulate General has jurisdiction over Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, and the Tibet region.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the U.S. unilateral demand to close the Chinese Consulate General in Houston violated international law, basic principles of international relations, and provisions of the China-U.S. consular treaty, seriously damaging China-U.S. relations, which is the background for the closure demand.

The Ministry added that China's measures are legitimate and necessary actions, consistent with international law, basic principles of international relations, and diplomatic practices.

The Chinese state-run Global Times explained that the Chengdu mission was opened in October 1985 through the efforts of former U.S. President George Bush.

It also noted that this consulate is famous as the place where former Wang Lijun, former Chongqing Public Security Bureau chief under Bo Xilai, who was under the leadership of former Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai, sought asylum at the Chengdu Consulate General after feeling threatened, leading to a clash between China and the U.S. in 2012.

The Global Times explained that the demand to close the Chengdu U.S. Consulate General is because it is similar in size and staff number to the Houston Chinese Consulate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.