U.S. diplomats pack up consulate in Chengdu, China, striving to meet closure deadline

American diplomats are working to clear out the U.S. consulate in Chengdu, China ahead of a looming deadline. 

The Chinese government has shuttered the American consulate to retaliate for America's decision to close China's consulate in Houston, Texas, according to the South China Morning Post. 

"Reciprocity matters in diplomacy," Chinese foreign minister Wang Wenbin said on Friday when speaking to reporters in Beijing. He said that Beijing gave the diplomats 72 hours to vacate the consulate.

The deadline for the closure appears to be 10 a.m. local time on Monday in Chengdu, which translates to 10 p.m. EST on Sunday. 

Crowds reportedly gathered around outside the consulate while trucks arrived and a passenger bus departed the compound.