Police presence at closed US consulate in Chengdu

Police have closed off a two to three-block area around a United States consulate in China, cutting off virtually any view of property. Vehicles could be seen moving in distance on Sunday behind multiple police lines. China ordered closing of consulate in Chengdu on Friday in retaliation for a US order to close Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas.

tit-for-tat closings marked a significant escalation in tensions between two countries over a range of issues, including tre, techlogy, security and human rights.  US alleged that Houston consulate was a nest of Chinese spies who tried to steal data from facilities in Texas, including Texas A&M medical system and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. China said allegations were "malicious slander."

Moving trucks arrived at U.S. consulate Sunday afteron and left a few hours later. Late at night, flatbed trailers entered complex. One later emerged carrying a large shipping container and a crane. Before area was closed, impending closure of consulate drew a stey stream of onlookers over weekend as Chengdu, like Houston, found itself in limelight of international politics.

People stopped to take photos, jamming a sidewalk busy with shoppers and families with strollers on a sunny day in city of Chengdu. Police h shut street and sidewalk in front of consulate and set up metal barriers along sidewalk on or side of tree-lined ro.

Uniformed and plainclos officers kept watch on both sides of barriers after scattered incidents following Chengdu anuncement on Friday, including a man who set off firecrackers and hecklers who cursed at foreign media shooting video and photos of scene.

A man who tired to unfurl a large placard late Sunday that he called an open letter to Chinese government was quickly taken away. Earlier, a bus left consulate grounds and what appeared to be embassy staff spoke with plainclos police before retreating back behind property's solid black gates. It wasn't clear who or what was on bus. Three medium-size trucks arrived and left a few hours later, and cars with diplomatic plates departed in between.