Staff leaving U.S. Chengdu consulate under high security as deadline looms

Chinese paramilitary police march outside the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, July 26, 2020, after China ordered its closure in response to U.S. order for China to shut its consulate in Houston. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

CHENGDU, China (Reuters) - Staff of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu made final efforts to clear the premises on Sunday as security remained tight outside, ahead of a Monday closure ordered by Beijing as China-U.S. relations continue to worsen.

A mini tourist atmosphere prevailed outside the facility on a tree-lined street on a hot Sunday, as onlookers shared sidewalk space with dozens of uniformed and plainclothes police opposite the entrance.