China said that it would put visa restrictions on U.S. diplomats in response to the U.S.’s visa restrictions on Chinese authorities.
Earlier in the month, U.S. State secretary Antony Blinken placed restrictions on Chinese authorities accused of “repressive conduct” on minorities regarding their religion and ethnicity.
China Adjusts Visa Policy for U.S. Officials
Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, did not identify the U.S. diplomats but said they misled China’s record on human rights.
“The United States concocts poisonous lies and uses them as grounds to intervene in China’s internal affairs, damage China’s image, and oppress Chinese authorities under the guise of so-called human rights problems,” Wang added. “These activities have no moral underpinnings and gravely violate international law and the fundamental rules of international relations.” Naturally, China is very opposed to this.
“To preserve China’s independence, security, and development interests, as well as the rights and interests of Chinese authorities… China has decided to put reciprocal visa bans on U.S. officials who have spread misinformation about China’s human rights record, urged sanctions against China, and damaged China’s interests.”
Earlier in the month, Wang insisted that the United States relax its limits on Chinese authorities or face “countermeasures.”
The United States and other nations in the west have blamed Beijing for genocidal actions against the Muslim Uyghur minority within western China’s Xinjiang region. Beijing has refuted the charge.
Last week, Blinken indicted China for attempting to “harass, threaten, surveil, and kidnap members belong to ethnic and religious minority groups, such as those seeking protection abroad and U.S. residents who stand on behalf of these vulnerable communities.”
