The Chinese government has ordered the closure of the US consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. The ongoing tension between the two countries took another step forward through the incident.

The development came as a response of China to the US government, according to a report of BBC.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US government ordered the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, Texas, by Friday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the decision was made because China was “stealing” intellectual property.

A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the closure of the US embassy in Chengdu described it as “legitimate and necessary response” to the actions taken by the US, the BBC said in a report.

According to Reuters, Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, who is also foreign minister, blamed Washington for the deterioration in ties.

“The current difficult situation in Sino-U.S. relations is entirely caused by the United States, and its goal is trying to interrupt China’s development,” Wang said in a video conversation with his German counterpart, Reuters reported.

The United States established its consulate in Chengdu, China in 1985. There are more than two hundred US workers there. Due to its proximity to Tibet, the US Consulate in Shendur is important for geopolitical considerations.

The US is one of the worst affected countries in the world by the coronavirus epidemic that originated in China. US President Donald Trump has been blaming China for the corona since then. Besides, there is already trade competition between the two countries.