BEIJING The staff of the Chinese consulate in Houston that was ordered shut by the U.S. government has returned to China. Wearing face masks because of the coronavirus pandemic, they were greeted on the tarmac by Foreign Minister Wang Yi after disembarking from a chartered Air China flight in Beijing on Monday night. In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, staff members from the Chinese Consulate in Houston, USA, arrive at an airport in Beijing, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. A charter flight carrying employees of the consulate, which was ordered closed by the U.S. government in July amid escalating diplomatic tensions, arrived in Beijing on Monday night. Three days later, China ordered the U.S. consulate in Chengdu to close in retaliation.

BEIJING China on Friday ordered the United States to close its consulate in the western city of Chengdu in an increasingly rancorous diplomatic conflict. The order followed the U.S. closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston. WHAT HAPPENED: US orders China to close Houston consulate amid swirling accusations of espionage, theftThe Chinese foreign ministry appealed to Washington to reverse its erroneous decision.The Trump administration on Tuesday ordered the Houston consulate closed within 72 hours. The United States has an embassy in Beijing and consulates in five other mainland cities Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang and Wuhan. WATCH: Videos show flames, activity in courtyard of Consulate General of China in HoustonEXPLAINED: Most important things to know about whats going on with the Consulate General of China in Houston

BEIJING China ordered the United States on Friday to close its consulate in the western city of Chengdu, ratcheting up a diplomatic conflict at a time when relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades. The measure taken by China is a legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the United States, said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin. On Tuesday, the Trump administration ordered the Houston consulate closed within 72 hours. The United States has an embassy in Beijing and consulates in five other mainland cities Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang and Wuhan. Alongside the eviction of the Houston Chinese Consulate, the risk of the U.S.-China conflict escalating into a Cold War is worrying, Hayaki Narita of Mizuho Bank said in a report.

HOUSTON A video of personnel appearing to burn documents at the Consulate General of China in Houston Tuesday night spread like wildfire overnight. You know I would like to know what those documents held, McCaul said from his Washington D.C. office. McCaul isnt the only one to accuse China of making sinister moves against the U.S. The incendiary actions captured by a Montrose resident in a neighboring building took place after President Donald Trumps administration ordered the shutdown of Chinas Houston consulate Tuesday. This video shared with us by a viewer who lives next to the Consulate General of China in #Houston shows fire and activity in the courtyard of the building.

HOUSTON Houston police and fire officials are responding to reports that documents are being burned in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. This video shared with us by a viewer who lives next to the Consulate General of China in #Houston shows fire and activity in the courtyard of the building. DETAILS SO FAR: https://t.co/2cOeKoap96 pic.twitter.com/0myxe6HIlC KPRC2Tulsi (@KPRC2Tulsi) July 22, 2020Houston fire and police officials milled around outside the building Tuesday night. @HoustonFire and @houstonpolice are responding to reports of documents being burned at the Consulate General of China on 3417 Montrose Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/grUHhqmUz4 KPRC2Tulsi (@KPRC2Tulsi) July 22, 2020This is a developing story.

I cant even imagine whats going to happen, said Helen Shih, a member of the Chinese community in Houston. So whats going to happen to them?The feeling of uncertainly was shared by Brian Liu, another member of Houstons Chinese community. For regular people, for regular businesses, the Chinese Consulate in Houston gives us a lot of convenience. We have people constantly going back and forth getting their visas here at the Chinese consulate going to China. Liu said the Chinese and Chinese American community in Houston love being an active part of the community.