UPDATED 12.20PM | China said it has taken over the premises of the US consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu today, after ordering the facility be shut in retaliation for being ousted from the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas.

Police in Chengdu restricted access to the area around the consulate from this morning, and four officials in personal protective gear were seen walking towards the consulate at about 10.24am local time (same time as Malaysia)...