US flag lowered at the American consulate in Chengdu

Beijing : Days after China and the US decided to cut diplomatic ties including trade, the American flag has been lowered at the American consulate in Chengdu, capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan, China. Heavy security has been deployed with staffers preparing to move before deadline ends to evacuate the premises.

The closure of the building was called by China on Friday last week calling it a "legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable measures by the United States."

"The US’ move seriously breached international law, the basic norms of international relations, and the terms of the China-US Consular Convention. It gravely harmed China-US relations," the statement said.

Several people were seen gathered outside the complex as this could be the last time when Americans were seen holding the compound.

China's move was retaliation to the US decision of closing the Chinese consulate in Houston as it that the site hosted spies trying to “intellectual property” from government facilities in Texas, including from A&M medical system and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The Chinese authorities gave 72 hours to the American to safeguard their "intellectual property and Americans’ private information".